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The Theseus was the Bristol Aeroplane Company's first attempt at a gas-turbine engine design. A turboprop delivering just over 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) was chosen rather than compete with companies that were already developing turbojets. A heat exchanger to transfer waste heat from the exhaust to the compressor exit was necessary to meet a requirement for a fuel consumption comparable to a piston engine.
However, the heat exchanger was abandoned after tests showed that it had a high pressure loss and only produced a fuel saving of 8%. Furthermore overall performance was reduced
As well as being one of the first engines to feature a free propeller turbine, the Theseus was the first turboprop in the world to pass a type test in January 1947. Following 156 hours of ground runs and the receipt of a test certificate from the Ministry of Supply on 28 January 1947, two Theseus engines were fitted in the outer positions of a four-engined Avro Lincoln for air tests. After ground and taxying test the Lincoln first flew on 17 February 1947.
It was soon superseded by the Proteus design with more power.
Applications
- Avro Theseus Lincoln
- Handley Page Hermes 5
Bristol Theseus on public display
East Midlands Aeropark Castle Donington.
Variants
;Theseus Series TH.11
:Variant without heat exchanger. Ran for first time July 18, 1945
;Theseus Series TH.21
:Variant with heat exchanger. Ran for first time in December, 1945
;Theseus 502: