Sir Charles Parsons and Electrical Power Generation—a Turbine Designer's Perspective

1994 ◽  
Vol 208 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R Bolter
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Electrical Power Generation ◽  
Analytical Methods ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Turbine Generator ◽  
Current State ◽  
The World

Sir Charles Parsons died some three years after the author was born. In this paper the author looks back at the pioneering work of Parsons in the field of power generation. It shows how he was able to increase output of the steam turbine generator from 7.5 kW in 1884 to 50000 kW in 1930 while increasing efficiency from 1.6 to 36 per cent, and relates these achievements to the current state of the art. Blading design, rotor construction and other aspects of turbine engineering are considered. The conclusion is that Parsons and his associates charted the course which manufacturers and utilities throughout the world have continued to follow, although increasingly sophisticated design and analytical methods have succeeded the intuitive approach of Parsons. His constant search for improved efficiency was and is highly relevant to today's concern for the environment. Finally, although it did not become a practical proposition in his lifetime, the paper reviews Parsons' vision of, and continuing interest in, the gas turbine, first mentioned in his 1884 patents.

Advanced Hybrid Gas Turbine Plant Concept for Electrical Power Generation and Alternate Transportation Fuels Production

1991 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin F. McDonald
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
High Temperature ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Electrical Power Generation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Hybrid Plant ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Process Heat

In long–term U.S. energy planning three major factors are paramount, (1) environmental considerations will play a major role in power plant design, (2) alternate (and cleaner burning) transportation fuels must be introduced to wean the country from dependence on imported oil, and (3) increasing reliance will be placed on indigenous resources, namely uranium and coal. It will likely take several decades for the above goals to be implemented on a large scale, and will surely necessitate the utilization of advanced technologies. A proposed advanced version of the modular helium reactor (MHR) has bi–modal operating capability in that it can be used for power generation, and the emission–free production of clean–burning fuels to meet transportation needs. The advanced hybrid MHR plant concept utilizes a direct cycle helium nuclear gas turbine for electrical power generation (with an efficiency potential of 50%), and in addition embodies an intermediate heat transport loop for high temperature process heat needed for the emission–free conversion of coal into future cleaner burning transportation fuels, namely methanol, synthetic natural gas, or hydrogen. The high grade sensible reject heat from both the prime–mover and process heat loop is ideally suited for desalination, and thus gives the plant capability for generating three revenue streams. This paper highlights an advanced very high temperature hybrid plant concept, and discusses the enabling technologies necessary to make such an energy complex a reality, perhaps in the first decade of the 21st century. Such a power generating and fuel production facility would be in concert with improved clean air goals, and the national security and economic advantages of making U.S. power and fuel supplies dependent only on indigenous resources.

Parametric Study of the Combined Fuel Cell-Gas Turbine Power Plant

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. S. Bhinder ◽  
Munzer S. Y. Ebaid ◽  
Moh’d Yazid F. Mustafa ◽  
Raj K. Calay ◽  
Mohammed H. Kailani
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Electrical Power Generation ◽  
Parametric Study ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Gas Turbine Power Plant

Large scale electrical power generation faces two serious problems: (i) energy conservation; and (ii) protection of the environment. High temperatures fuel cells have the potential to deal with both problems. The heat rejected by the fuel cell that would otherwise be wasted may be recovered to power a gas turbine in order to improve the energy conversion efficiency as well as power output of the combined fuel cell-gas turbine power plant. The added advantage of this approach would be to reduce thermal loading and the emission of greenhouse gases per MW electrical power generated. Serious research is being carried out worldwide to commercialise the fuel cell nevertheless there is still ample scope for studying the application of high temperature fuel cells in combination with the gas turbine for large scale electrical power generation. This paper presents the results of a parametric study of the fuel cell-gas turbine power plant to generate electricity. The paper should be of considerable interest to the designers and applications engineers working in power generation industry and other public utilities. The authors hope that the paper would lead to a stimulating discussion.

Gas Turbine Fuel Control Systems for Unmanned Applications

1988 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Harrison ◽  
M. S. Yates
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Electrical Power Generation ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Unmanned Aircraft ◽  
Generation System ◽  
Power Generation System

The technique of controlling engine acceleration has made possible gas turbine controls with simple hydromechanics and a minimal number of inputs into the electronics. This paper describes a control and electrical power generation system developed for an unmanned aircraft gas turbine, and the results obtained from the development engine running carried out with it.

Electric Hydraulic Governor Control for Industrial and Commercial Gas Turbine Use

1966 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 243-250
Author(s):  
N. G. Alvis
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Electrical Power Generation ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Mechanical Loads ◽  
Automatic Operation ◽  
Ship Propulsion ◽  
Commercial Use ◽  
Prime Movers

This paper covers the latest applications of an electric hydraulic governor control for industrial-commercial gas turbine use. Gas turbines are now being used for mechanical loads, electrical power generation, and ship propulsion. Many of these applications require some degree of automatic operation and operation with other types of prime movers. The electric governor has aided this new concept in gas turbine application. Several typical installations are discussed, including both industrial and commercial use.

Comparative Evaluation of SOFC/Gas Turbine Hybrid System Options

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin P. Litzinger ◽  
Stephen E. Veyo ◽  
Larry A. Shockling ◽  
Wayne L. Lundberg
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Oxide Fuel ◽  
Generation Efficiency ◽  
The Ideal

Solid Oxide Fuel Cell [SOFC]/Gas Turbine [GT] hybrid power systems can synergistically exploit the high operating temperature and high electrical generation efficiency of the solid oxide fuel cell and the high power density and simplicity of the gas turbine engine generator. Continued studies at Siemens Westinghouse seek practical system configurations with commercialization potential. Pressurized SOFC [PSOFC]/GT system concepts [directly heated Brayton cycles] can yield electrical power generation at the highest efficiency [circa 70%] {net ac/LHV} with concomitant complexity in configuration, operation and installation. Indirectly heated Brayton cycles utilizing an atmospheric pressure SOFC [ASOFC] can achieve a more modest electrical power generation efficiency [circa 55%] with considerably less complexity. Co-firing of the GT combustor to yield state-of-the-art [SOA] turbine inlet temperature [TIT] can most fully exploit the capability of SOA turbine technology yielding a hybrid system of lesser efficiency, but also of lesser cost ($/kWe). The ideal gas turbine and/or system configuration remains elusive however. Recent studies have focused on the indirectly heated cycle wherein the gas turbine exhaust serves directly as the SOFC oxidant. Consequently, the GT exhaust flow rate and temperature must be compatible with SOFC generator inlet requirements. This compatibility can be difficult to achieve with a state-of-the-art micro gas turbine generator [MTG] that typically operates with relatively low pressure ratio [3 to 4]. Alternatives ranging from the ideal GT to system level feature additions allowing SOA GTs have been analyzed. These alternatives are identified and discussed, and results of a comparative performance and cost evaluation are reviewed.

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