The Design and Operating Experience of a Mobile Gas Turbine With 16,000-HP Capability

This paper describes a mobile gas turbine driven compressor plant of 16,000-hp capability. The plant consists of two tractor trailer assemblies, one containing the gas turbine and the other the centrifugal compressor. A discussion of the design limits required by the mobility concept is included with the methods used to achieve these limits. A discussion of field operating experience after some 12,000 hr of operation is included with charts and graphs showing performance parameters of speed, power, and temperature.

A New 4500-HP Gas Turbine for Pipeline Industrial Service

This paper describes the performance and mechanical design of a 4500-hp, two shaft heavy duty simple or regenerative cycle gas turbine. This machine resulted from an international cooperative effort of the joint authors’ respective companies. Initially planned for gas pipelines and process applications, a line of load compressors has been integrated into the single package design. Options include indoor or outdoor models and geared or direct mechanical output for applications not served by the integral compressor models. A variable area load turbine nozzle assures maximum efficiency over a wide range of load, speed, and amibient conditions.

Digital Computer Control of Gas Turbine Engines

The use of digital computer methods to control aero gas turbines is comparatively new. The paper attemps to cover their background and essential features in broad outline. It discusses the special properties of digital computer control systems in relation to hydromechanical and electric analog arrangements and the special problems of design and safety involved. Some results of practical tests on a large complex engine are presented and discussed, special emphasis being given to those techniques which are particular to digital systems. The paper finally suggests the directions in which future developments of these systems might move.

Thermal Design of a Radiant Gas Heater for Brayton Cycle Power System

The thermal design of a ground test gas heater for the NASA Brayton cycle power system is reviewed. The heater consists of a U-tube heat exchanger flowing a helium-xenon gas mixture, irradiated by a low-density pattern of tungsten filament quartz lamp heater modules, arranged to produce an exponential flux distribution along the tube axis. Choice of the correlating equation for gas-mixture forced-convection heat transfer, methods for selecting the most critical design cases with respect to flow friction and heat transfer, and the method of calculating radiant flux distribution for a particular heater module arrangement are discussed.

Experience in Belgium With Aircraft Jet Engine Peaking Units

The paper describes briefly the five 20-MW and the 40-MW turbojet electric power plants. The methods of operation and the difficulties during commissioning and operation are dealt with and some statistics are given. Finally, the maintenance routine and manpower requirements are described.

Automatic Start-Up and Operation of Power Generating Plants With a Combined Gas-Steam Cycle

This paper concerns two power stations using a combined thermal cycle where the heat of the exhaust gases is recovered in a boiler which delivers superheated steam to a steam turbine. After a description of the start-up process, it deals with a few typical problems which had to be solved in working out the automatic and semi-automatic control systems. It also describes auxiliary elements such as the control panel and the supervisory system. The choice between automatic and semi-automatic plants is discussed.

Justifications for an All-Radial 1600-HP Gas Turbine Engine

The philosophy and justifications behind a large all-radial single-shaft gas turbine engine development are discussed. In addition, some of the factors affecting the marketing of a simple and low cost engine are dealt with.

Gas Turbines in the Royal Navy, 1965–1969

This paper deals with the Royal Navy’s experience with marine gas turbines during the past four years. The Royal Navy now has a large number of semi-industrial type gas turbines at sea and is currently engaged upon the development and sea trials of aircraft type turbines for major warship propulsion, drawing on its experience with the engines of the “Brave” class fast patrol boats, which have had to be overcome on the various engines and in the ship installations are discussed.

Worldwide Status of the Marine Gas Turbine: 1970

Reviews the world trends since 1966 in the application of gas turbines on both naval and merchant ships. States that the total horsepower increased from 1.9 to 5.8 million in a four-year period, with some 5.5 million horsepower in propulsion. Indicates a definite growth in commercial use from 100,000 to 390,000 hp. Attributes the significant gain in total power due primarily to the availability of proven engines, that are competitive with other prime movers, in the 20,000 hp and above size. Predicts significant increase in use of the marine gas turbine for naval as well as merchant ships when the overall ship, its utilization and supporting shore facilities are considered jointly.

A Feasibility Study of a High-Speed Combustor for Turbomachine Applications

The theoretical analysis, design, and experimental study of a high-speed combustion chamber are described. Such a burner may be used when the compressor outflow speed is so high that diffusion to the usual burner entrance conditions presents severe loss penalties. The study showed for a small mass flow-high pressure ratio turbomachine, that combined diffusor and combustor losses are minimum for a burner entrance Mach number of about 0.5. To design the burner a finite rate chemistry and turbulent mixing computer program was used; the combustor modeling and flame spread predictions are discussed. A series of experiments are described and burner pressure loss and temperature profiles are shown over a range of burner air-flow conditions.