scholarly journals Visitng the Museum of the World's First Gas Turbine Powerplant

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (04) ◽  
pp. 51-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee S. Langston

This article presents an overview of the world’s very first industrial gas turbine, which started operation in the Swiss city of Neuchâtel, in 1939. This 4-MWe machine is now on display in a special museum on the grounds of Alstom in Birr village. The museum is housed in an attractive glassed-in building, adjacent to the rotor plant. The gas turbine had originally been in operation for 63 years in a bombproof building, serving the city of Neuchâtel as a standby and peaking unit for electrical power. It was closed down in 2002 after damage to the generator occurred, and then was moved to Birr by Alstom for restoration. It was put on display in its new museum home in 2006. The Neuchâtel gas turbine looks surprisingly “modern.” The axial flow compressor, axial flow turbine, and electrical generator are inline, and directly coupled, and run at 3000 rpm to produce 4 MWe. It is roughly 3–5 times larger than the 7-MWe Solar Taurus gas turbines in the University of Connecticut cogen plant.

Author(s):  
F. Carchedi ◽  
G. R. Wood

This paper describes the design and development of a 15-stage axial flow compressor for a −6MW industrial gas turbine. Detailed aspects of the aerodynamic design are presented together with rig test data for the complete characteristic including stage data. Predictions of spanwise flow distributions are compared with measured values for the front stages of the compressor. Variable stagger stator blading is used to control the position of the low speed surge line and the effects of the stagger changes are discussed.


1947 ◽  
Vol 157 (1) ◽  
pp. 471-482 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Smith

The paper reviews the technical development of the F2 jet propulsion engine, an axial flow gas turbine designed and manufactured by the Metropolitan-Vickers Electrical Company, Limited, under contract from the Ministry of Aircraft Production. An account is given of the preliminary work in 1938–9, in collaboration with the Royal Aircraft Establishment, on gas turbines for aircraft propulsion. The development of a simple jet engine of the axial flow type was started in July 1940. The first engine ran on bench test in December 1941. The first flights took place in June 1943 on a flying testbed, and in November 1943 on a jet-propelled aircraft. The evolution of engines of this type, leading up to the current F2/4 jet propulsion engine, is described. Each main component of the engine—the axial flow compressor, the annular combustion chamber and the high temperature turbine—necessitated extensive development work in fields previously unexplored; the methods used in the development of these and other components are explained. The F2 engine was the first British jet propulsion engine of axial flow type, and it is also unique amongst British engines in the straight-through design and annular combustion chamber that gives an exceptionally low frontal area.


1949 ◽  
Vol 160 (1) ◽  
pp. 454-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. Bowden ◽  
J. L. Jefferson

The paper describes the principal design features of the Parsons 500 h.p. experimental industrial gas turbine, and records the operating results obtained in running the plant since December 1945. A section is devoted to some of the preliminary investigations on the compressor, combustion, and heat exchanger components, undertaken prior to the building of the unit. Some of the early work on the axial-flow compressor is, it is considered, of particular interest. One of the most important questions remaining to be answered in gas-turbine operation, is the quality of the oil fuel which can be regularly and reliably burned. Details are included in the paper of operating results using a residual oil fuel. Considerable trouble was experienced as a result of the building up of deposits in the turbine blading; these deposits are analysed and compared with the parent oil-fuel analysis, and photographs of spindle and cylinder blading show the nature of the build-up.


1982 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 823-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Carchedi ◽  
G. R. Wood

The paper describes the design and development of a 15 stage axial flow compressor for a 6-MW industrial gas turbine. Detailed aspects of the aerodynamic design are presented together with rig test data for the complete characteristic including stage data. Predictions of spanwise flow distributions are compared with measured values for the front stages of the compressor. Variable stagger stator blading is used to control the position of the low-speed surge line and the effects of the stagger changes are discussed.


2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (08) ◽  
pp. 50-50
Author(s):  
Lee S. Langston

This article describes the functioning of the gas turbine cogeneration power plant at the University of Connecticut (UConn) in Storrs. This 25-MW power plant serves the 18,000 students’ campus. It has been in operation since 2006 and is expected to save the University $180M in energy costs over its 40-year design life. The heart of the UConn cogeneration plant consists of three 7-MW Solar Taurus gas turbines burning natural gas, with fuel oil as a backup. These drive water-cooled generators to produce up to 20–24 MW of electrical power distributed throughout the campus. Gas turbine exhaust heat is used to generate up to 200,000 pounds per hour of steam in heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs). The HRSGs provide high-pressure steam to power a 4.6-MW steam turbine generator set for more electrical power and low-pressure steam for campus heating. The waste heat from the steam turbine contained in low-pressure turbine exhaust steam is combined with the HRSG low-pressure steam output for campus heating.


Author(s):  
Cleverson Bringhenti ◽  
Jesui´no Takachi Tomita ◽  
Francisco de Sousa Ju´nior ◽  
Joa˜o R. Barbosa

Gas turbines need to operate efficiently due to the high specific fuel consumption. In order to reach the best possible efficiency the main gas turbine components, such as compressor and turbine, need to be optimized. This work reports the use of two specially developed computer programs: AFCC [1, 2] and GTAnalysis [3, 4] for such purpose. An axial flow compressor has been designed, using the AFCC computer program based on the stage-stacking technique. Major compressor design parameters are optimized at design point, searching for best efficiency and surge margin. Operation points are calculated and its characteristics maps are generated. The calculated compressor maps are incorporated to the GTAnalysis computer program for the engine performance calculation. Restrictions, like engine complexity, manufacture difficulties and control problems, are not taken into account.


1956 ◽  
Vol 60 (549) ◽  
pp. 563-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Ainley

The 985th Lecture to be given before the Society, “ The High Temperature Turbo-jet Engine ” by D. G. Ainley, B.Sc, A.M.I.Mech.E., A.F.R.Ae.S., was given at the Institution of Civil Engineers, Great George St., London, S.W.I on 15th March 1956, with Mr. N. E. Rowe, C.B.E., D.I.C., F.C.G.I., F.I.A.S., F.R.Ae.S., in the Chair. Introducing the Lecturer, Mr. Rowe said that Mr. Ainley had been working on gas turbines since 1943 when he joined the gas turbine division of the Royal Aircraft Establishment. He transferred to Power Jets Ltd. and later to the National Gas Turbine Establishment. His early work was associated with the development of axial flow compressors, contraction design and so on; he then transferred to turbine design, became head of the section dealing with turbine and heat transfer problems and for the past five or six years had been chiefly engaged on the cooling of gas turbine blades. Mr. Ainley graduated from the University of London, Queen Mary College, with first class honours. In 1953 he was awarded the George Stephenson Research Prize by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.


2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (05) ◽  
pp. 30-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee S. Langston

This article explores the increasing use of natural gas in different turbine industries and in turn creating an efficient electrical system. All indications are that the aviation market will be good for gas turbine production as airlines and the military replace old equipment and expanding economies such as China and India increase their air travel. Gas turbines now account for some 22% of the electricity produced in the United States and 46% of the electricity generated in the United Kingdom. In spite of this market share, electrical power gas turbines have kept a much lower profile than competing technologies, such as coal-fired thermal plants and nuclear power. Gas turbines are also the primary device behind the modern combined power plant, about the most fuel-efficient technology we have. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is developing a new J series gas turbine for the combined cycle power plant market that could achieve thermal efficiencies of 61%. The researchers believe that if wind turbines and gas turbines team up, they can create a cleaner, more efficient electrical power system.


2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (05) ◽  
pp. 46-48
Author(s):  
Lee S. Langston

An updated report is given on the University of Connecticut’s gas turbine combined heat and power plant, now in operation for 13 years after its start in 2006. It has supplied the Storrs Campus with all of its electricity, heating and cooling needs, using three gas turbines that are the heart of the CHP plant. In addition to saving more than $180 million over its projected 40 year life, the CHP plant provides educational benefits for the University.


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