Flameout

Engine control

Early jet engines were prone to flameout following disturbances of inlet airflow, or sudden or inappropriate thrust lever movements, which resulted in incorrect air-fuel ratios in the combustion chamber. Modern engines are much more robust in this respect, and are often digitally controlled, which allows for significantly more effective control of all engine parameters to prevent flameouts and even initiate an automatic restart if a flameout occurs.

Flameouts occur most frequently at intermediate or low power settings such as in cruise and descent. To prevent a flameout when atmospheric or operational conditions are conducive to it, engine control systems usually provide a continuous ignition function. Igniters are normally used only at engine start, until the flame in the combustion chamber becomes self-sustaining. With continuous ignition, instead, the igniters are continually sparked every second or less, so that if a flameout occurs, combustion can immediately be restored.

Engine restart

Following a flameout, jet engines can normally be restarted in flight, provided the aircraft is flying within the portion of its flight envelope defined as the engine relight envelope. Depending on where in the relight envelope the restart is attempted (that is depending on the aircraft's airspeed and altitude), the procedure may simply rely on the airflow (windmill restart) or require the use of the starter (starter-assisted restart) in order for the compressor to achieve sufficient rotational speed for successful ignition.

For example, the Airbus A320 passenger jet has a maximum ceiling of over 39000 ft, but its certified engine relight envelope only extends to 30000 ft. Up to that altitude, a windmill restart can be attempted at airspeeds greater than 260 kn; below that speed, a starter-assisted relight is required.

Core lock can make restart impossible.

References

References

1. (2003). "Turbo Jet Flame Out by Ask a Scientist". Argone National Laboratory.
2. Garrison, Peter. (1 September 2006). "Flameout: Why the fire in a perfectly healthy jet engine can die".
3. "Airplane Turbofan Engine Operation and Malfunctions, Basic Familiarization for Flight Crews". [[FAA]].
4. "Gas Turbine Performance". 2nd edition. P.P.Walsh P. Fletcher. {{ISBN. 0-632-06434-X p. 484
5. (17 April 2017). "A318/A319/A320/A321 Flight Crew Operating Manual". [[Airbus]].