The propulsive efficiency of a propulsion system, such as a turbofan engine like the RB.193, is a measure of how effectively the engine converts the energy released by combustion into useful thrust.
The propulsive efficiency provides a measure of how well the engine is converting the energy from fuel combustion into useful thrust. A higher propulsive efficiency indicates a more effective propulsion system. Keep in mind that the actual values may vary based on specific engine design, operating conditions, and other factors.
The propulsive efficiency is a crucial parameter in evaluating the performance of a rocket engine, indicating how well it converts propellant energy into useful thrust. Practical rocket engines often have propulsive efficiencies less than 100% due to factors like incomplete combustion, heat losses, and other inefficiencies in the propulsion system.
The propulsive efficiency () is defined by the following formula:
where,
- is the propulsive efficiency,
- is the thrust produced by the rocket engine,
- is the effective exhaust velocity of the rocket,
- ṁ is the mass flow rate of the propellants,
- is the specific impulse of the rocket engine,
- g0 is the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 9.81 m/s²).