The Effect of Flight and Design Parameters of a Turbofan Engine on Global Warming Potential

Abstract

Abstract Anthropogenic global warming is caused by human beings as a result of fuel combustion process used in energy production, transportation, residential heating etc. Fossil fuels after combustion generate gases such as CO2, H2O, NOx, SOx, CO etc. Those gases form a greenhouse effect and causes global warming. For a sustainable world there is a need to limit those greenhouse gases. Transportation vehicles also consume fossil fuels and aviation is a part of that. Aircraft engines emit exhaust gases during flight and ground operations. Turbofan engine is the most common type in commercial aviation today. Turboprop, turbojet and piston engines constitute a smaller percentage in the sector. In this study, in order to reduce the environmental impact of aviation, a turbofan engine related exhaust gas emission was calculated for different input parameters of design and operation. Global warming potential (GWP) parameter was analysed as a sensitivity study with respect to input parameters. A +/-5% change was considered for input parameters and effects on GWP were presented in the order of magnitude and importance. Results obtained in this study have practical implications for engine designers and operators to potentially reduce the GWP for a sustainable world.