Gas Turbines for the Chemical Industry

Application of the gas turbine in nitric-acid plants appears attractive. Several of these units have been installed recently in this country and performance and operating experience already have been gained. Design, construction, and layout of “package” units for this particular process are described.

A Generalized Presentation of Gas-Turbine Combustor Performance

Experimental data on stability limits and combustion efficiency of a 3-in-diam combustor using gaseous fuel are presented. These data have been correlated by an empirical evaluation of the results of a dimensional analysis. Theories are proposed, based upon the experimental data, regarding combustor-stabilization processes. Laminar flame speed was shown to be a satisfactory index of the influence of base combustion rate on combustor performance.

A New Single Shaft 3000-HP Gas Turbine Ideal for Mechanical Drive Application

This paper describes the design and construction of a new 3000-hp single-shaft gas turbine which has been designed for sufficient speed flexibility to make it ideal for mechanical drive applications. Over-all performance and efficiencies of the gas turbine are presented together with a description of the control system and its application to variable-speed drives. A simplified electrohydraulic control system is described which retains necessary protective features and minimizes the accessory equipment. Particular emphasis has been placed on refinery applications where reliability is paramount.

Development of Gas Turbines for Road Vehicles

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.

Gas Turbine Generating Experience of West Texas Utilities Company

A summary of West Texas Utilities Company’s gas-turbine generating experience covering operation and maintenance during the period between December, 1952, and August, 1956. Tabulated operating and maintenance cost is included.

Gas-Turbine Maintenance in Severe Service

There are probably some power plants which operate under more severe conditions than do railroad locomotives. However, when all factors are considered, it is apparent that locomotive service is a severe test for any type of engine and associated control. This condition makes it necessary for locomotive builders and equipment manufacturers to re-evaluate many of their design practices. In order to adapt equipment designed for aircraft life or stationary plant conditions to railroad service, much more attention must be given to strength and sealing.

The Austin Vehicle Gas Turbine

This paper reviews the experience of the Austin Motor Company with gas-turbine development for vehicles. In particular, it considers the component efficiencies of the compressor and turbines that make up the complete unit. The present performance and fuel consumptions are reviewed and estimates made of the improvements likely to be obtained with reasonable development within a few years.

Designing Thermocouples for Response Rate

Considerable effort has been put into the study of the transient response of thermocouples. One reason for this is the growing interest in temperature-sensitive controls for jet engines. The advantage of a temperature-sensitive control is obvious — it controls by the variables which requires control. The disadvantages are chiefly in the sensing element. An ideal sensing element would be instantly aware if any change in gas temperature, and would follow accurately the temperature no matter how rapidly it changed. Unfortunately no such ideal sensing element is available. Anything which has mass requires a finite time to change its temperature, the length of time depending on its heat capacity and on how fast heat is being added to it. In terms of a thermocouple, or any other immersion element, this means that if the temperature of the gas is changing the thermocouple will “lag” and not follow the change exactly. This lag is important in control work since the control is not aware of a change in gas temperature until the signal from the sensing element changes. The lag is also important in analyzing transient temperature records made on a test engine. The recorded trace represents thermocouple temperature, not gas temperature. Due to the “lag” there may be considerable difference between gas temperature and thermocouple temperature.

Influence of Working-Fluid Characteristics on the Design of the Closed-Cycle Gas Turbine

During the past few months there has been a renewed expression of interest in the high-temperature gas-cycle reactor coupled with a closed-cycle gas turbine in a single loop as a means of utilizing the energy available from nuclear fission. At present the procurement of two closed-cycle gas-turbine plants is planned in this country, both of which are suitable for use with a gas-cycle nuclear reactor as a heat source. These plants differ widely in output, purpose and the nature of the working fluid. One of the questions repeatedly raised during their design was the effect of the nature and characteristics of the working fluid on the design of the nonnuclear components. This pointed to the desirability of a specific study along these lines, which study was conducted by the author’s firm and is partially reported herein.

Design Features of New 16,500-KW Gas Turbines for Power Generation

The combustion gas turbine has come to be an accepted means of power generation in the world today and, as has been the case with all power generation equipment, there is a demand for ever increasing sizes. To meet this demand, late in 1954 the author’s Company embarked on the design of a unit to be rated approximately 15,000 kw.