DEPARTMENT OF AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, BOMBAY

PROPULSION LABORATORY REPORT

EXPERIMENT 11
NOZZLE THRUST AND EFFICIENCY MEASUREMENT

SUBMITTED BY:
ARAVINDKUMAR
Roll No.163010021
 NOZZLE EFFCIENCY AND THRUST MEASUREMENT

Aim:

To study the performance characteristics of Convergent and Convergent-Divergent nozzles and

measure the thrust and efficiency.

Apparatus Required:
F791 Nozzle performance test unit.
Nozzles: Convergent Nozzle of throat diameter 2mm and four Convergent-Divergent with exit
Area to throat area of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6 and 2.

Two Pressure Gauges, 0 to 1100KN/2
Stainless Steel Chamber, 50mm diameter and 300mm long, end cover secured by bolts and sealed
by ring.
Hollow cantilever beam of 250mm length with impact head and nozzle adaptor, cantilever
deflection approximately 4N/mm.
Valves and Air regulators.
Micrometer with least count 0.01mm with electrical contact, indicator Lamp and Volt meter.

The high velocity jet of fluid leaving a nozzle may be used in several ways:

In a turbine, the kinetic energy stored in the fluid forms the energy available to the blades or the
Rotor for conversion to shaft work. In rockets and jet propulsion, the change of momentum associated with
the velocity changes in the nozzle provides most of the propulsion force. In ejectors and injectors, the
changes of momentum of the jet, with its entrained fluid, is used to bring about the desired pressure changes.
Compressible Flow through Nozzle is accompanied by shock waves inside the nozzle and can be carefully
moved out of the nozzle by adjusting the inlet and exit pressure thus making the flow isentropic throughout.
The presence of shocks inside the nozzle causes the viscous dissipation and reduction in total pressure long
the length of the nozzle causing reduction in nozzle efficiency.

The governing equation for nozzle in subsonic and supersonic flow is:

(2 1)
=

If the flow is subsonic, the area of the flow should be decreased to accelerate the flow. Subsequently if the
for achieving supersonic flow, the area should be increased to accelerate up to higher Mach numbers
above sonic.
 Figure 1. Convergent Nozzle

Figure 2. Convergent Divergent Nozzle

Figure 3. F791 Nozzle performance apparatus

Figure 4. F791 Nozzle performance apparatus layout

Performance Parameters:
Due to the effects of friction, uncontrolled expansion, shocks etc., the velocity of the jet
of fluid leaving a nozzle will be lower than that from an ideal nozzle.

The efficiency of a nozzle as a kinetic energy producer is the ratio:

Kinetic energy increase across the nozzle 2

Efficiency = =
Kinetic energy increase in an isentropic nozzle 2

Actual thrust = Vreal

This velocity Vreal can be calculated using experimental thrust and mass flow rate.

2
.. =
2

Ideal thrust of the nozzle:

= 2 Cp T01{1 (PPinlet
exit
)^1 }

2
.. =
2

Where Cp = Specific heat at constant pressure

T01 =Total Temperature
Figure 4. Nozzle pressure ratio after choking

Procedure:

1. The load versus the deflection curve of the thrust measuring device is found out and plotted, which
basically comprises of a cantilever beam, whose deflection is measured using an electronic circuit.

2. By using the deflection we can find the thrust produced, which can be calculated by dividing the
deflection by the slope of the load verses deflection curve.

3. The nozzle is then fixed on the tip of the cantilever beam, which is then fixed inside a canister that
has a certain pressure inside corresponding to the back pressure.
4. The pressure ratio is varied by either keeping the inlet pressure constant or by keeping the exit
pressure fixed.
5. The deflections are noted along with the mass flow rate from Rota-meter and inlet temperature
from the digital thermometer.
6. Using the obtained data, the specific thrust and the nozzle efficiency are calculated.
7. The same steps are repeated for all the other nozzles.
Observations:

Deflection during
Weight Deflection during loading unloading Average

1 2 3

N mm mm mm

0.5 12 6 9

1 26 18 22

1.5 40 33 36.5

2 50 46 48

2.5 64 59 61.5

3 76 71 73.5

3.5 90 83 86.5

4 104 104 104

Table1. Load and Deflection readings for calibration of the beam

Load vs Deflection
4.5
4
3.5
3
2.5
Load

2
Load
1.5
1
0.5
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Delection

Figure 5. Slope of Load vs. deflection curve. Equation of the Load-deflection curve: Y = .04x + .02
Observation table for nozzles:

Actual Actual Ideal Ideal

P1 P2 m Pr.Raio To1 Efficiency
Thrust Velocity Velocity thrust
Kpa Kpa mm N m/s Kg/s K m/s % N

701.33 601.33 6.00 0.26 86.67 0.0030 0.83 302.00 161.64 28.75 0.48

701.33 501.33 16.00 0.66 169.23 0.0039 0.67 302.00 235.74 51.53 0.92

701.33 401.33 28.00 1.14 271.43 0.0042 0.50 302.00 299.28 82.25 1.26

701.33 301.33 39.00 1.58 316.00 0.0050 0.33 302.10 361.01 76.62 1.81

701.33 201.33 52.00 2.10 420.00 0.0050 0.17 302.10 426.94 96.77 2.13

Table2. Observation and calculated data for Nozzle 1 at P1=701.325 KPa

Actual Ideal Ideal

P2 P1 T1 Thrust m Efficiency Pr .ratio
Velocity Velocity thrust

Kpa Kpa K mm N Kg/s m/s m/s %

201.33 301.33 302.20 16.00 0.66 0.0020 330.00 287.59 75.95 0.67 0.58

201.33 401.33 302.30 25.00 1.02 0.0026 392.31 368.78 88.36 0.50 0.96

201.33 501.33 302.30 38.00 1.54 0.0035 440.00 417.66 90.10 0.40 1.46

201.33 601.33 302.30 46.00 1.86 0.0040 465.00 451.77 94.39 0.33 1.81

201.33 701.33 302.30 59.00 2.38 0.0051 466.67 477.49 104.69 0.29 2.44

Table2. Observation and calculated data for Nozzle 1 at P2=201.325 KPa

 Actual Ideal Ideal
P1 P2 T1 m Thrust Efficiency
Velocity Velocity Thrust
Kpa Kpa K mm kg/s N m/s m/s % N

701.33 601.33 302.40 11.00 0.0036 0.46 127.78 161.75 62.41 0.58

701.33 501.33 302.40 18.00 0.0042 0.74 176.19 235.89 55.79 0.99

701.33 401.33 302.40 30.00 0.0048 1.22 254.17 299.48 72.03 1.44

701.33 301.33 302.50 39.00 0.0047 1.58 336.17 361.25 86.60 1.70

701.33 201.33 302.50 54.00 0.0050 2.18 436.00 427.23 104.15 2.14

Table3. Observation and calculated data for Nozzle 2 at P1=701.325 KPa

Actual Ideal Pr. Ideal

P2 P1 T1 m Thrust Efficiency
Velocity Velocity Ratio thrust
Kpa Kpa K mm kg/s N m/s m/s %
201.33 301.33 302.50 11.00 0.0020 0.46 230.00 257.36 79.87 0.67 0.51

201.33 401.33 302.50 19.00 0.0027 0.78 288.89 329.95 76.66 0.50 0.89

201.33 501.33 302.50 35.00 0.0036 1.42 394.44 373.69 111.42 0.40 1.35

201.33 601.33 302.50 42.00 0.0040 1.70 425.00 404.21 110.55 0.33 1.62

201.33 701.33 302.60 55.00 0.0050 2.22 444.00 427.30 107.97 0.29 2.14

Table 4. Observation and calculated data for Nozzle 2 at P2=201.325 KPa

Actual Ideal Ideal

P1 P2 T1 m Thrust Efficiency
Velocity Velocity Thrust
Kpa Kpa K mm kg/s N m/s m/s % N
701.33 601.33 302.60 12.00 0.0051 0.50 98.04 161.80 36.71 0.83

701.33 501.33 302.60 18.00 0.0050 0.74 148.00 235.97 39.34 1.18

701.33 401.33 302.60 24.00 0.0050 0.98 196.00 299.58 42.81 1.50

701.33 301.33 302.60 35.00 0.0049 1.42 289.80 361.31 64.33 1.77

701.33 201.33 302.70 50.00 0.0050 2.02 404.00 427.37 89.36 2.14
 Table5. Observation and calculated data for Nozzle 3 at P1=701.325 KPa

Actual Ideal Pr. Ideal

P2 P1 T1 m Thrust Efficiency
Velocity Velocity Ratio thrust
Kpa Kpa K mm kg/s N m/s m/s %

201.33 301.33 302.70 6.00 0.0020 0.26 130.00 257.44 25.50 0.67 0.51

201.33 401.33 302.70 14.00 0.0026 0.58 223.08 330.06 45.68 0.50 0.86

201.33 501.33 302.70 20.00 0.0036 0.82 227.78 373.81 37.13 0.40 1.35

201.33 601.33 302.70 41.00 0.0045 1.66 368.89 404.34 83.23 0.33 1.82

201.33 701.33 302.70 51.00 0.0050 2.06 412.00 427.37 92.94 0.29 2.14

Table6. Observation and calculated data for Nozzle 3 at P2=201.325 KPa

Sample Calculations:
Actual Thrust from equation Y = .04x + .02 obtained from load deflection plot.
Actual Thrust: 0.26 N
2. Actual velocity = Actual Thrust / mass flow rate.
Actual Velocity= 130 m/sec
3. Ideal Thrust = *

= 2 Cp T01{1 (PPinlet
exit
)^1 }

Cp = 1005 J/KgK
= 201.33 KPa

= 301.33 KPa
T01 = 302 K

So = 257.44 m/s
Ideal Thrust = m*Videal = .51 N
Efficiency = Va2/Vi2 = 25.25 %
Graphs:

Mass flow rate vs Pressure ratio for consant P1

0.006

0.005

0.004
Mass flow rate

0.003 Mass flow rate (Nozzle1)

Mass Flow rate (Nozzle 2)
0.002 Mass flow rate ( Nozzle 3)

0.001

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Pressure Ratio

Graph1. Mass flow rate vs. Pressure ratio for all nozzles at constant inlet pressure= 701.325kpa

Ideal Thrust vs Pressure Ratio for constant P1

2.5

2
Ideal Thrust

1.5
Ideal thrust (Nozzle 1)
1 Ideal Thrust (Nozzle 2)
Ideal thrust (Nozzle 3)
0.5

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Pressure ratio

Graph2. Ideal thrust vs Pressure ratio keeping inlet pressure constant = 701.325kpa
 Specific thrust vs Pressure ratio for constant P1
500

450

400
Specific thrust

350
Specific thrust (Nozzle 1)
300 Specific thrust (Nozzle 2)

250 Specific thrust (Nozzle 3)

200

150
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Pressure ratio

Graph3. Specific thrust vs Pressure ratio keeping inlet pressure constant = 701.325kpa

Efficiency Vs pressure ratio for const P1

120

100

80
Efficiency

60 Efficiency (Nozzle 1)
Efficiency (Nozzle 2)
40 Eficiency (Nozzle3)

20

0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Pressure ratio

Graph4. Efficiency vs Pressure ratio keeping inlet pressure constant = 701.325kpa

 Mass flow rate vs Pressure ratio for consant P2
0.006

0.005

0.004
Mass flow rate

0.003 Mass flow rate (Nozzle1)

Mass Flow rate (Nozzle 2)

0.002 Mass flow rate ( Nozzle 3)

0.001

0
0 0.2 0.4 Ratio
Pressure 0.6 0.8 1

Graph5. Mass flow rate vs. Pressure ratio for all nozzles at constant exit pressure= 201.325kpa

Specific thrust vs Pressure ratio for constant P2

500

450

400
Specific thrust

350

300 Specific thrust (Nozzle 1)

250 Specific thrust (Nozzle 2)

Specific thrust (Nozzle 3)
200

150

100
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8
Pressure ratio

Graph6. Specific thrust vs Pressure ratio keeping exit pressure constant = 201.325kpa
Conclusion:

The performance analysis of one convergent and two convergent divergent nozzles were
done a different pressure ratios. The dependence of the performance parameters such as thrust, exit
velocity, specific thrust and efficiency on different pressure ratios were measured and plotted.

It has been observed that if the pressure ratio is more, the mass flow rate and exit velocity
becomes more. This also in turn shows that the thrust is directly proportional to the pressure
difference between the inlet ant the exit within the choking limit.

The Effect of pressure ratio is significant in increasing the mass flow rate and velocity
hence improving the thrust output and also the efficiency of the nozzle.