Improvements in Part-Load Efficiency by Reducing Pressure Ratio in Regenerative Gas-Turbine Engines

Author(s):  
Theodosios P. Korakianitis ◽  
David Gordon Wilson

To obtain equal thermal efficiencies in gas-turbine engines, designers have the freedom (if space and mass constraints are not limiting) of exchanging compressor pressure ratio for heat-exchanger effectiveness. Because heat exchangers can have lower losses than compressors, a high-effectiveness heat-exchanger cycle can have a much higher thermal efficiency (theoretically 55–60%) than is possible with unregenerated cycles. What has not been known up to now is the effect of design-point pressure ratio on the part-load efficiency of gas-turbine engines. The work reported here shows that, for similar turbomachinery technology, design-point and part-load efficiencies improve as the design-point pressure ratio decreases and the heat-exchanger thermal ratio increases.

2012 ◽  
Vol 134 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brittany Northcutt ◽  
Issam Mudawar

This study explores the design of highly compact air–fuel heat exchangers for high-performance aircraft turbine engines. The heat exchangers consist of a large number of modules that can be brazed together into a rectangular or annular outer envelope. Inside the module, fuel flows through parallel microchannels, while air flows externally perpendicular to the direction of the fuel flow over rows of short, straight fins. A theoretical model recently developed by the authors for a single module is both validated experimentally, by simulating aircraft fuel with water, and expanded to actual heat exchangers and JP-8 aircraft fuel. An optimization study of the module’s geometrical parameters is conducted for high-pressure-ratio engine conditions in pursuit of the highest heat transfer rate. These parameters are then adjusted based on such considerations as microfabrication limits, stress and rupture, and the need to preclude clogging of the fuel and air passage. Using the revised parameters, the analytical model is used to generate effectiveness plots for both rectangular and annular heat exchangers with one air pass and one, two, or three fuel passes. These results demonstrate both the effectiveness of the module design and the versatility of the analytical tools at designing complex heat exchangers for high-performance aircraft gas turbine engines.


1978 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 640-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Donovan ◽  
T. Cackette

A set of factors which reduces the variability due to ambient conditions of the hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and oxides of nitrogen emission indices has been developed. These factors can be used to correct an emission index to reference day ambient conditions. The correction factors, which vary with engine rated pressure ratio for NOx and idle pressure ratio for HC and CO, can be applied to a wide range of current technology gas turbine engines. The factors are a function of only the combustor inlet temperature and ambient humidity.


Author(s):  
C. P. Lea˜o ◽  
S. F. C. F. Teixeira ◽  
A. M. Silva ◽  
M. L. Nunes ◽  
L. A. S. B. Martins

In recent years, gas-turbine engines have undergone major improvements both in efficiency and cost reductions. Several inexpensive models are available in the range of 30 to 250 kWe, with electrical efficiencies already approaching 30%, due to the use of a basic air-compressor associated to an internal air pre-heater. Gas-turbine engines offer significant advantages over Diesel or IC engines, particularly when Natural Gas (NG) is used as fuel. With the current market trends toward Distributed Generation (DG) and the increased substitution of boilers by NG-fuelled cogeneration installations for CO2 emissions reduction, small-scale gas turbine units can be the ideal solution for energy systems located in urban areas. A numerical optimization method was applied to a small-scale unit delivering 100 kW of power and 0.86 kg/s of water, heated from 318 to 353K. In this academic study, the unit is based on a micro gas-turbine and includes an internal pre-heater, typical of these low pressure-ratio turbines, and an external heat recovery system. The problem was formulated as a non-linear optimisation model with the minimisation of costs subject to the physical and thermodynamic constraints. Despite difficulties in obtaining data for some of the components cost-equations, the preliminary results indicate that the optimal compressor pressure ratio is about half of the usual values found in large installations, but higher than those of the currently available micro-turbine models, while the turbine inlet temperature remains virtually unchanged.


2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 43-57
Author(s):  
H. H. Omar ◽  
V. S. Kuz'michev ◽  
A. O. Zagrebelnyi ◽  
V. A. Grigoriev

Recent studies related to fuel economy in air transport conducted in our country and abroad show that the use of recuperative heat exchangers in aviation gas turbine engines can significantly, by up to 20...30%, reduce fuel consumption. Until recently, the use of cycles with heat recovery in aircraft gas turbine engines was restrained by a significant increase in the mass of the power plant due to the installation of a heat exchanger. Currently, there is a technological opportunity to create compact, light, high-efficiency heat exchangers for use on aircraft without compromising their performance. An important target in the design of engines with heat recovery is to select the parameters of the working process that provide maximum efficiency of the aircraft system. The article focused on setting of the optimization problem and the choice of rational parameters of the thermodynamic cycle parameters of a gas turbine engine with a recuperative heat exchanger. On the basis of the developed method of multi-criteria optimization the optimization of thermodynamic cycle parameters of a helicopter gas turbine engine with a ANSAT recuperative heat exchanger was carried out by means of numerical simulations according to such criteria as the total weight of the engine and fuel required for the flight, the specific fuel consumption of the aircraft for a ton- kilometer of the payload. The results of the optimization are presented in the article. The calculation of engine efficiency indicators was carried out on the basis of modeling the flight cycle of the helicopter, taking into account its aerodynamic characteristics. The developed mathematical model for calculating the mass of a compact heat exchanger, designed to solve optimization problems at the stage of conceptual design of the engine and simulation of the transport helicopter flight cycle is presented. The developed methods and models are implemented in the ASTRA program. It is shown that optimal parameters of the working process of a gas turbine engine with a free turbine and a recuperative heat exchanger depend significantly on the heat exchanger effectiveness. The possibility of increasing the efficiency of the engine due to heat regeneration is also shown.


Author(s):  
H. C. Eatock ◽  
M. D. Stoten

United Aircraft Corporation studied the potential costs of various possible gas turbine engines which might be used to reduce automobile exhaust emissions. As part of that study, United Aircraft of Canada undertook the preliminary design and performance analysis of high-pressure-ratio nonregenerated (simple cycle) gas turbine engines. For the first time, high levels of single-stage component efficiency are available extending from a pressure ratio less than 4 up to 10 or 12 to 1. As a result, the study showed that the simple-cycle engine may provide satisfactory running costs with significantly lower manufacturing costs and NOx emissions than a regenerated engine. In this paper some features of the preliminary design of both single-shaft and a free power turbine version of this engine are examined. The major component technology assumptions, in particular the high pressure ratio centrifugal compressor, employed for performance extrapolation are explained and compared with current technology. The potential low NOx emissions of the simple-cycle gas turbine compared to regenerative or recuperative gas turbines is discussed. Finally, some of the problems which might be encountered in using this totally different power plant for the conventional automobile are identified.


Author(s):  
Erlendur Steinthorsson ◽  
Adel Mansour ◽  
Brian Hollon ◽  
Michael Teter ◽  
Clarence Chang

Participating in NASA’s Environmentally Responsible Aviation (ERA) Project, Parker Hannifin built and tested multipoint Lean Direct Injection (LDI) fuel injectors designed for NASA’s N+2 55:1 Overall Pressure-Ratio (OPR) gas turbine engine cycles. The injectors are based on Parker’s earlier three-zone injector (3ZI) which was conceived to enable practical implementation of multipoint LDI schemes in conventional aviation gas turbine engines. The new injectors offer significant aerodynamic design flexibility, excellent thermal performance, and scalability to various engine sizes. The injectors built for this project contain 15 injection points and incorporate staging to enable operation at low power conditions. Ignition and flame stability were demonstrated at ambient conditions with ignition air pressure drop as low as 0.3% and fuel-to-air ratio (FAR) as low as 0.011. Lean Blowout (LBO) occurred at FAR as low as 0.005 with air at 460 K and atmospheric pressure. A high pressure combustion testing campaign was conducted in the CE-5 test facility at NASA Glenn Research Center at pressures up to 250 psi and combustor exit temperatures up to 2,033 K (3,200 °F). The tests demonstrated estimated LTO cycle emissions that are about 30% of CAEP/6 for a reference 60,000 lbf thrust, 54.8-OPR engine. This paper presents some details of the injector design along with results from ignition, LBO and emissions testing.


Author(s):  
Giovanni Torella

The influence of air system an engine performance and behaviour is considered. A method based on the polytropic efficiency concept has been developed in order to calculate the thermodynamic characteristics of air bleed. This method has been included in the “Design Point” and “Off Design” codes of different configuration engines. The paper shows the wide applications of the programs for several calculations. Moreover the results of the faults of air system are shown by both diagnostic and fault simulation computer programs.


2020 ◽  
pp. 38-43
Author(s):  
Екатерина Викторовна Дорошенко ◽  
Михаил Владимирович Хижняк ◽  
Юрий Матвеевич Терещенко

The main requirements that apply to axial fans and axial compressors of aircraft gas turbine engines include minimum dimensions and weight; high aerodynamic load; high coefficient of performance; wide range of steady work; high reliability. For gas turbine engines, the requirements of minimum weight and dimensions are especially important, since the engines must provide flights at high velocities and altitudes. This study aims to assess the effect of the solidity of the impeller fan on the average radius on the aerodynamic loading of the impeller of an axial fan for an engine with a high bypass ratio. The object of the study is the impeller of the fan. The solidity of the impeller fan on the average radius varied in the range from 1.8 to 0.82, the number of blades of the impeller fan varied from 33 to 15, respectively. The studies in this work were carried out by the method of numerical experiment. The flow in the axial fans was simulated by solving the system of Navier-Stokes equations, which were closed by the SST turbulent viscosity model. Based on the analysis of the results of the study, an assessment is made of the influence of the solidity of the impeller fan at an average radius on the aerodynamic loading of the impeller of an axial fan for an engine with a high bypass ratio. The research results showed that with a decrease in the solidity of the impeller fan at an average radius of 1.8 to 0.82 in operating modes with an axial inlet velocity of 80 to 120 m / s, the impeller fan pressure ratio decreases by 0.11 ... 3.2 %. The maximum decrease in the fan pressure ratio increase for the fan impeller with the parameters studied is 3.2 %, with a decrease in the number of fan blades from 33 to 15, while the total weight of the blades decreases by 54.55 %. The decrease in the solidity on the average radius of the impeller of the studied fan leads to a decrease in the relative sizes of the low-velocity zones at the sleeve and on the periphery and to a decrease in the level of flow unevenness. A further reduction in the level of flow non-uniformity behind the fan is possible when using the boundary layer control in the fan - this is the task of subsequent studies.


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