Aeroderivative Mechanical Drive Gas Turbines: The Design of Intermediate Pressure Turbines

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Scotti Del Greco ◽  
Vittorio Michelassi ◽  
Stefano Francini ◽  
Daniele Di Benedetto ◽  
Mahendran Manoharan

Gas turbines engine designers are leaning toward aircraft engine architectures due to their footprint, weight, and performance advantages. Such engines need some modifications to both the combustion system, to comply with emission limits, and turbine rotational speed. Aeroderivative engines maintain the same legacy aircraft engine architecture and replace the fan and booster with a higher speed compressor booster driven by a single-stage intermediate turbine. A multistage free power turbine (FPT) sits on a separate shaft to drive compressors for liquefied natural gas (LNG) applications or generators. The intermediate-power turbine (IPT) design is important for the engine performance as it drives the booster compressor and sets the inlet boundary conditions to the downstream power turbine. This paper describes the experience of Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE) in the design of the intermediate turbine that sits in between a GE legacy aircraft engine core exhaust and the downstream power turbine. This paper focuses on the flow path of the turbine center frame (TCF)/intermediate turbine and the associated design, as well as on the 3D steady and unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-assisted design of the IPT stage to control secondary flows in presence of through flow curvature induced by the upstream TCF.

Author(s):  
Alberto Scotti Del Greco ◽  
Vittorio Michelassi ◽  
Stefano Francini ◽  
Daniele Di Benedetto ◽  
Mahendran Manoharan

Gas turbines engine designers are leaning towards aircraft engine architectures due to their footprint, weight, and performance advantages. Such engines need some modifications to both the combustion system, to comply with emission limits, and turbine rotational speed. Aero derivative engines maintain the same legacy aircraft engine architecture, and replace the fan and booster with higher speed compressor booster driven by a single stage intermediate turbine. A multistage free power turbine (FPT) sits on a separate shaft to drive compressors for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) applications or generators. The intermediate power turbine (IPT) design is important for the engine performance as it drives the booster compressor and sets the inlet boundary conditions to the downstream power turbine. This paper describes the experience of Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE) in the design of the intermediate turbine that sits in between a GE legacy aircraft engine core exhaust and the downstream power turbine. This paper focuses on the flow path of the TCF/intermediate turbine and the associated design, as well as on the 3D steady and unsteady CFD assisted design of the IPT stage to control secondary flows in presence of through flow curvature induced by the upstream TCF.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
André L. S. Andade ◽  
Osvaldo J. Venturini ◽  
Vladimir R. M. Cobas ◽  
Vinicius Zimmerman Silva

Abstract In order to increase the flexibility and performance of gas turbines, generally their manufacturers and research centers involved in their development are constantly seeking the expansion of their operational envelope as well as their efficiency, making the engine more dynamic, less polluting and able to respond promptly to variations in load demands. An important aspect that should be considered when analyzing these prime movers is the assessment of its behavior under transients due to load changes, which can be accomplished through the development of a detailed, accurate and effective computational model. Considering this scenario, the present work aims to develop a model for the simulation and analysis of the dynamic behavior of stationary gas turbines. The engine considered in this analysis has a nominal capacity of 30.7 MW (ISO conditions) and is composed by a two-spool gas generator and a free power turbine. The model was developed using T-MATS, an integrated Simulink/Matlab toolbox, develop by NASA. The gas turbine was evaluated under both permanent and transient regimes and each one of its component was analyzed individually. The assessment made it possible to determine the engine performance parameters such as efficiency, heat rate and specific fuel consumption and its operational limits (surge limits, stall, turbine inlet temperatures, etc.) under different load conditions and regimes. The results obtained were compared with available field data, and the relative deviations for the considered parameters were all lower than 1%.


2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Döring ◽  
Stephan Staudacher ◽  
Christian Koch ◽  
Matthias Weißschuh

Airborne particles ingested in aircraft engines deposit on compressor blading and end walls. Aerodynamic surfaces degrade on a microscopic and macroscopic scale. Blade row, compressor, and engine performance deteriorate. Optimization of maintenance scheduling to mitigate these effects requires modeling of the deterioration process. This work provides a deterioration model on blade row level and the experimental validation of this model in a newly designed deposition test rig. When reviewing previously published work, a clear focus on deposition effects in industrial gas turbines becomes evident. The present work focuses on quantifying magnitudes and timescales of deposition effects in aircraft engines and the adaptation of the generalized Kern and Seaton deposition model for application in axial compressor blade rows. The test rig's cascade was designed to be representative of aircraft engine compressor blading. The cascade was exposed to an accelerated deposition process. Reproducible deposition patterns were identified. Results showed an asymptotic progression of blade row performance deterioration. A significant increase in total pressure loss and decrease in static pressure rise were measured. Application of the validated model using existing particle concentration and flight cycle data showed that more than 95% of the performance deterioration due to deposition occurs within the first 1000 flight cycles.


Author(s):  
Kenneth W. Van Treuren

The gas turbine industry is experiencing growth in many sectors. An important part of teaching a gas turbine course is exposing students to the practical applications of the gas turbine. This laboratory proposes an opportunity for students to view an operating gas turbine engine in an aircraft propulsion application and to model the engine performance. A Pratt and Whitney PT6A-20 turboprop was run at a local airfield and engine parameters typical of cockpit instrumentation were taken. The students, in teams of two, then modeled the system using the software PARA and PERF in an attempt to match the manufacturer’s specifications. This laboratory required students to research the parameters necessary to model this engine that were not part of the data set provided by the manufacturer. The research and modeling encompassed areas such as technology level, efficiencies, fuel consumption, and performance. The end result was a two-page report containing the students’ calculations comparing the actual performance of the engine with the manufacturer’s specifications. Supporting graphs and figures were included as appendices. The same type laboratory could be adapted for co-generation gas turbines. Over 121 colleges and universities have co-generation facilities on campus and that presents a unique opportunity for the students to observe the operation of a land-based gas turbine used for power generation. A 5 MW TB5000 manufactured by Ruston (Alstom) Gas Engines is available on the Baylor University campus and is highlighted as an example. Potential problems encountered with using the Baylor University gas turbine are discussed which include lack of appropriate engine instrumentation.


1999 ◽  
Vol 121 (05) ◽  
pp. 72-74
Author(s):  
Jay M. Wilson ◽  
Henry Baumgartner

The new Cooper-Bessemer power turbine is a high-efficiency, center frame-mounted, three-stage unit that can be driven by either the existing RB211-24 gas generator or the new improved version. The upgraded gas generator combined with the new power turbine offers an increase in nominal output from 28.4 MW (38,000 hp) to 31.8 MW (42,600 hp). The new coupled turbine, now being tested, is called the Coberra 6761. Besides improving core engine performance, the program's objectives included improved fuel efficiency and reliability, and easier site serviceability; extension of the modular concept from the gas generator into the power turbine with improvements in sealing, materials, and temperature capability as well as interchangeability of both upgraded turbines with existing hardware. The Rolls-Royce industrial RB211 turbine, derived from an aircraft engine, is the basis for the gas generator end of Cooper Energy Services' Coberra coupled turbines. The power turbine design capacity has a significant effect on the power at a given speed. The flow capacity was optimized to achieve the best thermal efficiency and lower IP speeds to optimize IP compressor efficiency and permit future throttle push.


Author(s):  
Ioanna Aslanidou ◽  
Valentina Zaccaria ◽  
Evangelia Pontika ◽  
Nathan Zimmerman ◽  
Anestis I. Kalfas ◽  
...  

This paper addresses the teaching of gas turbine technology in a third-year undergraduate course in Sweden and the challenges encountered. The improvements noted in the reaction of the students and the achievement of the learning outcomes is discussed. The course, aimed at students with a broad academic education on energy, is focused on gas turbines, covering topics from cycle studies and performance calculations to detailed design of turbomachinery components. It also includes economic aspects during the operation of heat and power generation systems and addresses combined cycles as well as hybrid energy systems with fuel cells. The course structure comprises lectures from academics and industrial experts, study visits, and a comprehensive assignment. With the inclusion of all of these aspects in the course, the students find it rewarding despite the significant challenges encountered. An important contribution to the education of the students is giving them the chance, stimulation, and support to complete an assignment on gas turbine design. Particular attention is given on striking a balance between helping them find the solution to the design problem and encouraging them to think on their own. Feedback received from the students highlighted some of the challenges and has given directions for improvements in the structure of the course, particularly with regards to the course assignment. This year, an application developed for a mobile phone in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for the calculation of engine performance will be introduced in the course. The app will have a supporting role during discussions and presentations in the classroom and help the students better understand gas turbine operation. This is also expected to reduce the workload of the students for the assignment and spike their interest.


Author(s):  
I. Roumeliotis ◽  
N. Aretakis ◽  
K. Mathioudakis ◽  
E. A. Yfantis

Any prime mover exhibits the effects of wear and tear over time, especially when operating in a hostile environment. Marine gas turbines operation in the hostile marine environment results in the degradation of their performance characteristics. A method for predicting the effects of common compressor degradation mechanisms on the engine operation and performance by exploiting the “zooming” feature of current performance modelling techniques is presented. Specifically a 0D engine performance model is coupled with a higher fidelity compressor model which is based on the “stage stacking” method. In this way the compressor faults can be simulated in a physical meaningful way and the overall engine performance and off design operation of a faulty engine can be predicted. The method is applied to the case of a twin shaft engine, a configuration that is commonly used for marine propulsion. In the case of marine propulsion the operating profile includes a large portion of off-design operation, thus in order to assess the engine’s faults effects, the engine operation should be examined with respect to the marine vessel’s operation. For this reason, the engine performance model is coupled to a marine vessel’s mission model that evaluates the prime mover’s operating conditions. In this way the effect of a faulty engine on vessels’ mission parameters like overall fuel consumption, maximum speed, pollutant emissions and mission duration can be quantified.


2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 910-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Gu¨len ◽  
P. R. Griffin ◽  
S. Paolucci

This paper describes the results of real-time, on-line performance monitoring of two gas turbines over a period of five months in 1997. A commercially available software system is installed to monitor, analyze and store measurements obtained from the plant’s distributed control system. The software is installed in a combined-cycle, cogeneration power plant, located in Massachusetts, USA, with two Frame 7EA gas turbines in Apr. 1997. Vendor’s information such as correction and part load performance curves are utilized to calculate expected engine performance and compare it with measurements. In addition to monitoring the general condition and performance of the gas turbines, user-specified financial data is used to determine schedules for compressor washing and inlet filter replacement by balancing the associated costs with lost revenue. All measurements and calculated information are stored in databases for real-time and historical trending and tabulating. The data is analyzed ex post facto to identify salient performance and maintenance issues.


Author(s):  
Luca Bozzi ◽  
Enrico D’angelo

High turn-down operating of heavy-duty gas turbines in modern Combined Cycle Plants requires a highly efficient secondary air system to ensure the proper supply of cooling and sealing air. Thus, accurate performance prediction of secondary flows in the complete range of operating conditions is crucial. The paper gives an overview of the secondary air system of Ansaldo F-class AEx4.3A gas turbines. Focus of the work is a procedure to calculate the cooling flows, which allows investigating both the interaction between cooled rows and additional secondary flows (sealing and leakage air) and the influence on gas turbine performance. The procedure is based on a fluid-network solver modelling the engine secondary air system. Parametric curves implemented into the network model give the consumption of cooling air of blades and vanes. Performances of blade cooling systems based on different cooling technology are presented. Variations of secondary air flows in function of load and/or ambient conditions are discussed and justified. The effect of secondary air reduction is investigated in details showing the relationship between the position, along the gas path, of the upgrade and the increasing of engine performance. In particular, a section of the paper describes the application of a consistent and straightforward technique, based on an exergy analysis, to estimate the effect of major modifications to the air system on overall engine performance. A set of models for the different factors of cooling loss is presented and sample calculations are used to illustrate the splitting and magnitude of losses. Field data, referred to AE64.3A gas turbine, are used to calibrate the correlation method and to enhance the structure of the lumped-parameters network models.


Author(s):  
Rongchao Zhao ◽  
Weilin Zhuge ◽  
Yangjun Zhang ◽  
Yong Yin ◽  
Zhigang Li ◽  
...  

Turbo-compounding (TC) is a possible solution to make transportation more ecological. Matching the engine with an appropriate power turbine is the key for the turbo-compounded engine performance optimization. Conventionally, the matching work is based on a turbine map. The influences of the turbine geometry parameters on the engine performance are taken into account. A new matching method based on the turbine through flow model is presented in this paper. The influences of geometry parameters of the power turbine on the diesel engine performance are investigated. The research focuses on the effects of inlet blade radius and height, exit blade angle and tip radius of the power turbine on the engine BSFC and torque. Results show that the outlet blade angle and tip radius have stronger impacts on BSFC and torque of the engine than the inlet blade radius and height. Further studies show that the engine cycle and air mass flow rate are more sensitive to the outlet blade tip radius and angle than the inlet blade radius and height.


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