Thermal management course in turbines
Online course of 300 hours in turbine thermal management: 6 modules covering the engine heat balance, the secondary air system, thermal analysis of components, clearances and active control, oil, fuel and accessories, and a turbine thermal management project, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the overall heat balance of a gas turbine.
Design and model secondary air networks.
Carry out transient thermal analyses of engine components.
Evaluate active clearance control strategies.
Manage the thermal loads of oil, fuel and accessories.
Quantify the thermal impact on specific fuel consumption.
Develop a thermal management study for a turbine.
Who it's for
- Engine thermal systems engineers.
- Secondary air system engineers seeking a broader thermal view of the engine.
- Thermal analysts working on turbomachinery components.
- Engine performance engineers who need to understand clearances and heat loads.
- Turbomachinery design engineers.
- Heat transfer researchers moving into gas turbine applications.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to join engine manufacturers.
What you'll work with
- EASA CS-E (certification specifications for engines)
- 14 CFR Part 33 (airworthiness standards for aircraft engines)
- 14 CFR 33.70 (engine life-limited parts)
- FAA AC 33.70-1 (guidance for life-limited engine parts)
- SAE AS755F (aircraft propulsion system performance station designation)
- ASME V&V 20-2009 (verification and validation in computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer)
- ASME PTC 22-2014 (performance test code for gas turbines)
- Ansys Mechanical
- Simcenter Flomaster
- GasTurb
- Ansys CFX
- MATLAB
6 modules
1.1Heat flows in a turbofan1.2Component temperatures by station1.3Heat sources: gases, friction and accessories1.4Heat sinks: bypass air, fuel and oil1.5Thermal limitations of materials1.6Influence of turbine entry temperature1.7Effect of the mission on thermal loads1.8Integrated engine–aircraft thermal management1.9Trends in high-bypass-ratio engines1.10Case study: heat balance of a turbofan in cruise
2.1Functions of the secondary air system2.2Compressor air bleed2.3Flow networks and restrictor elements2.4Labyrinth seals and brush seals2.5Disc cavities and pumping2.6Prevention of hot gas ingestion2.7Bearing chamber pressurisation2.8Flow network modelling2.9Specific fuel consumption penalty2.10Workshop: secondary air flow network of a turbine
3.1Transient conduction in discs3.2Casing and blade temperatures3.3Convective heat transfer coefficients3.4Correlations for rotating cavities3.5Thermal finite element models3.6Thermal–structural coupling3.7Thermal cycles over the mission3.8Thermal gradients and stresses3.9Validation with engine thermocouples3.10Lab: thermal transient of a turbine disc
4.1Blade tip clearances and performance4.2Thermal and centrifugal growth4.3Mismatches during acceleration transients4.4Active clearance control using air4.5Rubs and abradable wear4.6Capacitive and optical clearance sensors4.7Clearance control algorithms4.8Performance loss due to deterioration4.9Benefit in fuel consumption and temperature4.10Practical exercise: clearance calculation during a take-off transient
5.1Lubrication system and thermal load5.2Fuel–oil heat exchangers5.3Surface air–oil coolers5.4Fuel temperature limits5.5Coking deposit formation5.6Cooling of control electronics5.7Thermal management of generators5.8Optimisation of heat distribution5.9Simulation of the overall thermal system5.10Case study: fuel heat sink capacity at idle
6.1Engine and study conditions6.2Overall heat balance6.3Design of the secondary air network6.4Thermal analysis of a component6.5Clearance control strategy6.6Oil and fuel heat management6.7Assessment of the impact on fuel consumption6.8Conclusions and improvement proposals6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine it with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Ansys Mechanical, Simcenter Flomaster, GasTurb, Ansys CFX and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for modelling secondary air networks, transient thermal analysis of discs and calculating blade tip clearances. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: EASA CS-E, 14 CFR Part 33, 14 CFR 33.70, FAA AC 33.70-1, SAE AS755F, ASME V&V 20-2009, ASME PTC 22-2014
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Ansys Mechanical, Simcenter Flomaster, GasTurb, Ansys CFX, MATLAB, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required: you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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