Optimal Mission Analysis Accounting for Engine Aging and Emissions

An aircraft mission analysis procedure, accounting for engine aging deterioration and incorporating emission estimation capability, is presented. It consists of three main modules: a flight simulation module, an engine performance simulation module, and an optimizer. A key feature of the approach is the incorporation of engine deterioration modeling. This extends the procedure’s ability to estimate onboard performance of an engine as it ages through time and usage. Additionally, the possibility to investigate environmental impact is offered through pollutant emission semi-empirical correlations, which are coupled to the engine performance calculations. The adaptive character of the models employed allows for accurate performance and emission estimations once an initial set of data is available for the engine. The proposed procedure allows the optimization of a flight scenario for a variety of aircrafts, missions, and engine condition combinations in order to meet predefined criteria. Mission profile characteristics (e.g., cruise, altitude, and speed) providing optimum overall performance in terms of fuel conservation, time related costs, or pollutant production are studied.