Weber Fraction (WF) is a metric used to measure the efficiency of a gas turbine engine. It is defined as the ratio of the actual power output of a turbine to its ideal power output. The Weber fraction is a crucial measure of how well a gas turbine engine is performing and is used to compare different engines. It is also used to identify potential improvements to the turbine engine design.
The concept of the Weber fraction was first proposed by German physicist Ernst Weber in 1852. Weber proposed that the efficiency of a turbine engine could be improved if the air-fuel mixture was correctly balanced and the blades were correctly designed. The Weber fraction was later used to quantify the efficiency of gas turbines in the 1950s.
The Weber fraction is calculated by dividing the actual power output of the turbine by its ideal power output. The actual power output is determined by measuring the exhaust gas temperature and pressure, while the ideal power output is determined by the theoretical work done by the turbine.
The Weber fraction of a turbine engine can be improved by optimizing the design of the turbine blades, ensuring a proper air-fuel mixture, and increasing the temperature of the combustion chamber. Additionally, increasing the pressure of the turbine can also improve the Weber fraction.
The Weber fraction is an important metric for understanding the efficiency of a gas turbine engine. It is used to compare different engines and to identify potential improvements to the engine design. By optimizing the design of the turbine blades, ensuring a proper air-fuel mixture, and increasing the temperature and pressure of the turbine, the Weber fraction can be improved.
References
Gao, Y., & Kailasanath, K. (2014). Gas turbine thermodynamics, performance and design. Butterworth-Heinemann.
Geiser, R. (2018). Gas turbine engines for model aircraft. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
Weber, E. (1852). On the application of the theory of heat to the statical condition of the caloric engine. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, 4(24), 517-527.