A Genetic Algorithm Approach to Estimate Performance Status of Gas Turbines

Author(s):  
Y. G. Li

Accurate estimation of performance status of a gas turbine engine at certain ambient and operating condition based on measured gas path parameters is very important for both engine designers and users alike. It could be a very challenging task for engine performance engineers to estimate the value of component design parameters in order to match measured gas path parameters when the number of design point component parameters and the number of measurable performance parameters become large. Such status estimation can be used to distinguish the performance difference among fleet engines and build accurate engine models at an artificial design point for individual engines, which is also crucially important for gas path diagnostic analysis. In this paper, a gas turbine design point performance adaptation approach based on the integration of gas turbine thermodynamic performance modelling and a Genetic Algorithm has been developed in order to estimate the design point component parameters and match the available gas path measurements of real engines. In the approach, the initially unknown component parameters may be compressor pressure ratios and efficiencies, turbine entry temperature, turbine efficiencies, air mass flow rate, cooling flows, by-pass ratio, etc. The engine measurable performance parameters may be thrust and specific fuel consumption for aero engines, shaft power and thermal efficiency for industrial engines, gas path pressures and temperatures, etc. The developed adaptation approach has been applied to a design point performance status estimation of an industrial gas turbine engine GE LM2500+ operating in Manx Electricity Authority (MEA), UK. The application shows that the adaptation approach is very effective and robust in producing a model engine that matches the actual engine performance with acceptable computation speed. Theoretically the developed techniques can be applied to different gas turbine engines.

Author(s):  
A. Carelli

The experience acquired in developing an automotive gas-turbine engine is traced. Problems of design, construction, and development unique to a small gas-turbine engine and its application to an automobile are discussed. The engine performance and operational characteristics are then described. Finally, there is a discussion of the problems that must be solved before gas-turbine engines may successfully compete with reciprocating engines in automotive road transport.


Author(s):  
Philip H. Snyder ◽  
Raymond E. Fish

A wave rotor topped gas turbine engine has been identified which incorporates five basic requirements of a successful demonstrator engine. Predicted performance maps of the wave rotor cycle have been used along with maps of existing gas turbine hardware in a design point study. The effects of wave rotor topping on the engine cycle and the subsequent need to rematch compressor and turbine sections in the topped engine are addressed. Comparison of performance of the resulting engine is made on the basis of wave rotor topped engine versus an appropriate baseline engine using common shaft compressor hardware. The topped engine design clearly demonstrates an improvement in shaft horsepower and SFC. Predicted off design part power engine performance for the wave rotor topped engine is presented including that at engine idle conditions. Operation of the engine at off design is closely examined with wave rotor operation at less than design burner outlet temperatures and rotor speeds. Challenges remaining in the development of a demonstrator engine are addressed.


Author(s):  
Gregory S. Corman ◽  
Jeffrey T. Heinen ◽  
Raymond H. Goetze

Conceptual design evaluations of the use of continuous fiber ceramic composite (CFCC) turbine shrouds and combustor liners in an industrial gas turbine engine were performed under Phase 1 of the DOE CFCC program. Significant engine performance improvements were predicted with the use of CFCC components. Five composite systems were evaluated for use as shrouds and combustor liners, the results of which are discussed with particular reference to Toughened Silcomp. Several current CFCC materials were judged to be relatively close to meeting the short term performance requirements of such a system. However, additional CFCC property data are required for significant component design optimization and life prediction, two key design steps that must be completed before ceramic composites can be utilized in large gas turbines.


Author(s):  
P. A. Phillips ◽  
Peter Spear

After briefly summarizing worldwide automotive gas turbine activity, the paper analyses the power plant requirements of a wide range of vehicle applications in order to formulate the design criteria for acceptable vehicle gas turbines. Ample data are available on the thermodynamic merits of various gas turbine cycles; however, the low cost of its piston engine competitor tends to eliminate all but the simplest cycles from vehicle gas turbine considerations. In order to improve the part load fuel economy, some complexity is inevitable, but this is limited to the addition of a glass ceramic regenerator in the 150 b.h.p. engine which is described in some detail. The alternative further complications necessary to achieve satisfactory vehicle response at various power/weight ratios are examined. Further improvement in engine performance will come by increasing the maximum cycle temperature. This can be achieved at lower cost by the extension of the use of ceramics. The paper is intended to stimulate the design application of the gas turbine engine.


Author(s):  
Peter D. Smout ◽  
Steven C. Cook

The determination of gas turbine engine performance relies heavily on intrusive rakes of pilot tubes and thermocouples for gas path pressure and temperature measurement. For over forty years, Kiel-shrouds mounted on the rake body leading edge have been used as the industry standard to de-sensitise the instrument to variations in flow incidence and velocity. This results in a complex rake design which is expensive to manufacture, susceptible to mechanical damage, and difficult to repair. This paper describes an exercise aimed at radically reducing rake manufacture and repair costs. A novel ’common cavity rake’ (CCR) design is presented where the pressure and/or temperature sensors are housed in a single slot let into the rake leading edge. Aerodynamic calibration data is included to show that the performance of the CCR design under uniform flow conditions and in an imposed total pressure gradient is equivalent to that of a conventional Kiel-shrouded rake.


Author(s):  
Kishor Kumar ◽  
R. Prathapanayaka ◽  
S. V. Ramana Murthy ◽  
S. Kishore Kumar ◽  
T. M. Ajay Krishna

This paper describes the aerodynamic design and analysis of a high-pressure, single-stage axial flow turbine suitable for small gas turbine engine application using computational methods. The specifications of turbine were based on the need of a typical high-pressure compressor and geometric restrictions of small gas turbine engine. Baseline design parameters such as flow coefficient, stage loading coefficient are close to 0.23 and 1.22 respectively with maximum flow expansion in the NGV rows. In the preliminary design mode, the meanline approach is used to generate the turbine flow path and the design point performance is achieved by considering three blade sections at hub, mean and tip using the AMDC+KO+MK+BSM loss models to meet the design constraints. An average exit swirl angle of less than 5 degrees is achieved leading to minimum losses in the stage. Also, NGV and rotor blade numbers were chosen based on the optimum blade solidity. Blade profile is redesigned using the results from blade-to-blade analysis and through-flow analysis based on an enhanced Dawes BTOB3D flow solver. Using PbCFD (Pushbutton CFD) and commercially available CFD software ANSYS-CFX, aero-thermodynamic parameters like pressure ratios, aerodynamic power, and efficiencies are computed and these results are compared with one another. The boundary conditions, convergence criterion, and turbulence model used in CFD computations are set uniform for comparison with 8 per cent turbulence intensity. Grid independence study is performed at design point to optimize the grid density for off-design performance predictions. ANSYS-CFX and PbCFD have predicted higher efficiency of 3.4% and 1.2% respectively with respect to targeted efficiency of 89 per cent.


Author(s):  
J. D. MacLeod ◽  
W. Grabe

The Machinery and Engine Technology (MET) Program of the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC) has established a program for the evaluation of sensors to measure gas turbine engine performance accurately. The precise measurement of fuel flow is an essential part of steady-state gas turbine performance assessment. Prompted by an international engine testing and information exchange program, and a mandate to improve all aspects of gas turbine performance evaluation, the MET Laboratory has critically examined two types of fuel flowmeters, Coriolis and turbine. The two flowmeter types are different in that the Coriolis flowmeter measures mass flow directly, while the turbine flowmeter measures volumetric flow, which must be converted to mass flow for conventional performance analysis. The direct measurement of mass flow, using a Coriolis flowmeter, has many advantages in field testing of gas turbines, because it reduces the risk of errors resulting from the conversion process. Turbine flowmeters, on the other hand, have been regarded as an industry standard because they are compact, rugged, reliable, and relatively inexpensive. This paper describes the project objectives, the experimental installation, and the results of the comparison of the Coriolis and turbine type flowmeters in steady-state performance testing. Discussed are variations between the two types of flowmeters due to fuel characteristics, fuel handling equipment, acoustic and vibration interference and installation effects. Also included in this paper are estimations of measurement uncertainties for both types of flowmeters. Results indicate that the agreement between Coriolis and turbine type flowmeters is good over the entire steady-state operating range of a typical gas turbine engine. In some cases the repeatability of the Coriolis flowmeter is better than the manufacturers specification. Even a significant variation in fuel density (10%), and viscosity (300%), did not appear to compromise the ability of the Coriolis flowmeter to match the performance of the turbine flowmeter.


Author(s):  
V. Pachidis ◽  
P. Pilidis ◽  
I. Li

The performance analysis of modern gas turbine engine systems has led industry to the development of sophisticated gas turbine performance simulation tools and the utilization of skilled operators who must possess the ability to balance environmental, performance and economic requirements. Academic institutions, in their training of potential gas turbine performance engineers have to be able to meet these new challenges, at least at a postgraduate level. This paper describes in detail the “Gas Turbine Performance Simulation” module of the “Thermal Power” MSc course at Cranfield University in the UK, and particularly its practical content. This covers a laboratory test of a small Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) gas turbine engine, the simulation of the ‘clean’ engine performance using a sophisticated gas turbine performance simulation tool, as well as the simulation of the degraded performance of the engine. Through this exercise students are expected to gain a basic understanding of compressor and turbine operation, gain experience in gas turbine engine testing and test data collection and assessment, develop a clear, analytical approach to gas turbine performance simulation issues, improve their technical communication skills and finally gain experience in writing a proper technical report.


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