ContactISSN:e-ISSN: 2980-0064
Author Sign-inReviewer Sign-inRegister
TürkçeEnglish
HomeAim and ScopeABOUTGUIDE FOR AUTHORSSend ArticleLatest IssueArchiveContact Us

Performance Analysis of Helicopter Turboshaft Engines: The Case of Agusta A119 PT6B-37

Enes Günaltılı

  • Enes Günaltılı: NECMETTİN ERBAKAN ÜNİVERSİTESİ
  •  Year : 2025
  •  Vol : 4
  •  Issue : 1
  •  Page : 93-115
This study presents a comprehensive energy and exergy-based performance analysis of the PT6B-37A turboshaft engine used in the Agusta A119 Koala helicopter under varying altitude conditions. The investigation focuses on engine behavior at altitudes of 0 m, 300 m, 600 m, and 900 m, within the framework of International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) conditions. The primary objective is to assess the thermodynamic performance of the engine and to determine the impact of altitude changes on efficiency and irreversibility. A hybrid modeling approach was adopted: the engine’s design point performance was simulated using GasTurb 14 software, and altitude-specific energy and exergy parameters were computed using a custom MATLAB-based analytical code. Additionally, detailed component-level analyses were conducted, focusing on the compressor, combustion chamber, turbine, and exhaust sections. According to the analysis results, the engine produced a shaft power of 712.3 kW at sea level, with an overall energy efficiency of 26.24%. As altitude increased, reductions of up to 9% were observed in shaft power and thermal efficiency, while specific fuel consumption and exergy destruction increased. The combustion chamber and exhaust were identified as the most sensitive components to atmospheric variations and the main sources of exergy losses. Chemical irreversibilities, entropy generation due to high flame temperatures, and pressure drops in the combustion process were among the key factors limiting overall efficiency. Furthermore, NOx emissions—evaluated as an environmental performance parameter—were found to decrease with increasing altitude, primarily due to lower combustion temperatures and reduced partial oxygen pressure. The findings provide valuable technical insights for engine manufacturers, operators, and researchers, offering guidance on altitude-responsive design solutions, mission planning strategies, fuel optimization, and environmental mitigation. This analysis may also contribute to the development of parameter-based design criteria for future hybrid-electric helicopter platforms.
Cite this Article As : Günaltılı, E. (2025). Performance analysis of helicopter turboshaft engines: The case of agusta A119 PT6B-37. Aerospace Research Letters (ASREL), 4(1), 93-115. https://doi.org/10.56753/ASREL.2025.1.7

Conflict of interest : The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

This article is published under the CC BY-NC 4.0 license.
Asrel Aerospace Research Letters
2025, Vol4, Issue1
E-ISSN: 2980-0064
Received : , Accepted : , Published Online :

References

  1. Ateş, B., Bayraktar, S., Arıcı, M., Akçay, Z., Durak, B., & Uyaner, M. (2023). Termoplastik kompozitten yapılmış ve kapı boşluğu içeren uçak gövde parçasının sanal testi. Aerospace Research Letters (ASREL) Dergisi, 2(2), 56–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.56753/ASREL.2023.2.1
  2. Aygün, H. (2022). Thermodynamic, environmental and sustainability calculations of a conceptual turboshaft engine under several power settings. Energy, 245, 123251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.123251.
  3. Balli, Ö. (2017). Advanced exergy analyses of an aircraft turboprop engine (TPE). Energy, 124, 599–612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.02.121.
  4. Balli, O. (2023). Exergy, sustainability and environmental evaluation of a turboshaft engine used in helicopters. Energy, 275, 127468 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2023.127593.
  5. Başlamışlı, U. (2012). Helicopter turboshaft engine ground performance with alternative fuels (Yüksek lisans tezi, Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi). https://open.metu.edu.tr/handle/11511/21369.
  6. Bejan, A. (2006). Advanced engineering thermodynamics (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
  7. Coban, K., Colpan, C. Ö., & Karakoç, T. H. (2017). Application of thermodynamic laws on a military helicopter engine. Energy, 140, 1427–1436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.07.179.
  8. Çetin, B. T., Aygün, C., Toprak, O., & Çelik, S. (2024). Design of a multi-purpose vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicle. Aerospace Research Letters (ASREL), 3(2), 113-126. https://doi.org/10.56753/ASREL.2024.2.3
  9. Çoban, K., Çolpan, C. Ö., & Karakoç, T. H. (2016). Bir helikopter motorunun enerji ve ekserji analizi. Sürdürülebilir Havacılık Araştırmaları Dergisi, 1(1), 27–39.
  10. Dinç, A. (2022). Exergy analysis of a turboprop engine at different flight altitude and speeds using novel consideration. International Journal of Turbo & Jet Engines, 39(4), 471–486. https://doi.org/10.1515/tjj-2020-0045.
  11. EASA. (2007). Type-Certificate Data Sheet No. EASA.IM.E.039 – PT6B-36 Series Engines. European Aviation Safety Agency. https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/downloads/7729/en.
  12. Ekici, S., Altuntaş, O., Açıkkalp, E., Söğüt, M. Z., & Karakoç, T. H. (2016). Assessment of thermodynamic performance and exergetic sustainability of turboprop engine using mixture of kerosene and methanol. International Journal of Exergy, 19(3), 295–314. Doi: 10.1504/ijex.2016.075666
  13. El-Sayed, A. F. (2008). Aircraft propulsion and gas turbine engines. CRC Press.
  14. Hepbaşlı, A. (2008). A key review on exergetic analysis and assessment of renewable energy resources. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 12(3), 593–661. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2006.10.001.
  15. Jakubowski, M., & Jakliński, P. (2024). Numerical modelling and performance analysis of a free power turbine turboshaft engine using MATLAB. Applied Sciences, 14(23), 11373. https://doi.org/10.3390/app142311373.
  16. Khaliq, A., & Kaushik, S. C. (2004). Thermodynamic performance evaluation of combustion gas turbine cogeneration system with reheat. Applied Thermal Engineering, 24(13), 1785–1795. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2003.12.013.
  17. Kırmızı, M., Aygün, H., & Turan, Ö. (2024). Energetic and exergetic metrics of a cargo aircraft turboprop propulsion system by using regression method for dynamic flight. Energy, 296, 131153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2024.131153.
  18. Kocagil, B. M., Çopur, E. H., & Salamcı, M. U. (2024). Adaptif kontrolcü tasarımı kullanılarak laboratuvar helikopteri üzerinde adaptasyon hız değişkeni etkisinin incelenmesi. Aerospace Research Letters (ASREL), 3(2), 79-96. https://doi.org/10.56753/ASREL.2024.2.2
  19. Kurzke, J. (2018). GasTurb 13: Design and off-design performance of gas turbines (Manual). GasTurb GmbH.
  20. Kurzke, J. (2024). GasTurb 14 User Manual. GasTurb GmbH.
  21. Leonardo. (2025). AW119Kx - Commercial and Civil Helicopters. Erişim adresi: https://helicopters.leonardo.com/en/products/aw119kx.
  22. Ortiz-Carretero, J., Pardo, A. C., Goulos, I., & Pachidis, V. (2018). Impact of adverse environmental conditions on rotorcraft operational performance and pollutant emissions. ASME Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 140(2), 021201. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4037751.
  23. Pratt & Whitney Canada. (2015, October 5). Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. increases PT6B-37A engine TBO by 1,500 hours. Vertical Magazine.
  24. Pratt & Whitney Canada. (2022, March 8). PT6B-37A engines to power Mercy Flight Central’s four new Leonardo AW119Kx helicopters.
  25. Pratt & Whitney. (2022). PT6B Engine. Erişim adresi: https://www.prattwhitney.com/en/products/helicopter-engines/pt6b.
  26. Rosen, M. A., & Dincer, I. (2001). Exergy as a driver for energy policy and sustainable development. International Journal of Energy Research, 25(11), 1043–1053. DOI: 10.1081/GE-120027881.
  27. Shang, Y. (2023). The latest development of turboshaft engines. Highlights in Science, Engineering and Technology, 71, 268–275. https://doi.org/10.54097/hset.v71i.12709.
  28. Siyahi, M., Siyahi, H., Fallah, M., & Mohammadi, Z. (2024). Thermodynamic optimization and energy-exergy analyses of the turboshaft helicopter engine. International Journal of Thermodynamics, 27(3), 15–25. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ijot/issue/86797/1458027.
  29. Şöhret, Y., Ekici, S., Altuntaş, O., Açıkkalp, E., & Karakoç, T. H. (2016). Assessment of thermodynamic performance and exergetic sustainability of turboprop engine using mixture of kerosene and methanol. International Journal of Exergy, 19(3), 295–314.
  30. Turan, Ö., & Aydın, H. (2016). Numerical calculation of energy and exergy flows of a turboshaft engine for power generation and helicopter applications. Energy, 115, 914–923. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2016.09.070.
  31. Zare, V., Khodaparast, S., & Shayan, E. (2021). Comparative thermoeconomic analysis of using different jet fuels in a turboshaft engine for aviation applications. AUT Journal of Mechanical Engineering (Amirkabir), 5(2), 297–312.
  32. Zhang, S., Ma, A., Zhang, T., Ge, N., & Huang, X. (2024). A performance simulation methodology for a whole turboshaft engine based on throughflow modelling. Energies, 17(2), Article 494. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17020494.