Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Micro gas turbines used in the aerospace industry require high performance with a compact frontal area. These micro gas turbines are often considered unattractive and at times impractical due to their poor fuel consumption and low cycle efficiency. This led to a joint effort to investigate and analyze the components of a particular micro gas turbine to determine potential geometry and performance improvements. The focus of this investigation is the radial vaned diffuser which forms part of a centrifugal compressor. The size of the diffuser is highly constrained by the compact gas turbine diameter. The micro gas turbine under consideration is the BMT 120 KS. The radial vaned diffuser is analyzed by means of 1-D and 3-D (CFD) analyses using CompAero and FINETM/Turbo respectively. The aim is to design a diffuser that maximizes the total-to-static pressure recovery and mass flow rate through the compressor with minimal flow losses. An experimental test facility was constructed and the numerical computations were validated against the experimental data. Three new diffusers were designed, each with a different vane geometry. The static-to-static pressure ratio over the radial diffuser was improved from 1.39 to 1.44 at a rotational speed of 120 krpm. The static pressure recovery coefficient was improved from 0.48 to 0.73 with a reduction in absolute Mach number from 0.47 to 0.22 at the radial diffuser discharge. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Mikro-gasturbines wat in die lugvaart industrie gebruik word, vereis ‘n hoë werkverrigting met ‘n kompakte frontale area. Hierdie gasturbines word menigmaal onaantreklik geag weens swak brandstofverbruik en n lae siklus effektiewiteit. Dit het gelei tot ‘n gesamentlike projek om elke komponent van ‘n spesifieke mikro-gasturbine te analiseer en te verbeter. Die fokus van dié ondersoek is die radiale lem diffusor wat deel vorm van ‘n sentrifugaalkompressor. Die deursnee van die diffusor word deur die kompakte gasturbine diameter beperk. Die mikro gasturbine wat ondersoek word is die BMT 120 KS. Die radiale lem diffusor word geanaliseer deur middel van 1-D en 3-D (BVD) berekeninge met behulp van CompAero en FINETM/Turbo onderskeidelik. Die doelwit is om ‘n diffusor te ontwerp met ‘n verhoogde massavloei en drukverhouding oor die kompressor. ‘n Eksperimentele toetsfasiliteit is ingerig om toetse uit te voer en word gebruik om numeriese berekeninge te bevestig. Die staties-tot-stasiese drukstyging oor die radiale diffusor is verbeter van 1.39 tot 1.44 by ‘n omwentelingspoed van 120 kopm. Die statiese drukherwinningskoeffisiënt is verbeter van 0.48 tot 0.73 met ‘n vermindering in die absolute Machgetal vanaf 0.47 tot 0.22 by die radiale diffusor uitlaat.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The use of gas turbines in central receiver solar power plant cycles has become an increasingly popular research topic. This has led to the need to investigate and analyse the effect of the solar receiver on the gas turbine cycle. The aim of this thesis is to construct an experimental gas turbine setup to accommodate further research on utilizing solar energy to power gas turbines. The gas turbine under consideration is the Rover Gas Turbines 1S/60. The focus of this investigation is the centrifugal compressor of the gas turbine. An increase in static pressure is required for the gas turbine to cope with anticipated pressure drops in the central receiver that will be part of the gas turbine cycle. The standard compressor design is analysed by means of 3-D (CFD) analysis using CFX® and experimental data. The new centrifugal compressor is designed by means of 1-D and 3-D (CFD) analysis using CompAero and CFX®. The aim is to design a compressor that maximizes the total-to-static pressure ratio. The size of the compressor is highly constrained by the geometry parameters of the gas turbine. Since the turbine rotor will remain unchanged, the power input, mass flow rate and rotational speed must stay the same. The experimental setup was build and the numerical results of the standard compressor were validated against the experimental results. A new centrifugal compressor was designed. The total-to-static pressure ratio was increased from 2.50 to 3.30 at an operating speed of 46 krpm. The efficiency of the compressor was improved from 63.8% to 85.6%. The input power of the new compressor design deviated 1.6% from the set benchmark, and 1.3% from the numerical data of the standard compressor. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van gasturbines in sonkragstasiesiklusse met ’n sentrale ontvanger het gegroei tot ’n gewilde navorsingsonderwerp. Dit het gelei tot die behoefte om die effek van die sonontvanger op die gasturbinesiklus te ondersoek en te analiseer. Die doel van hierdie tesis is om ’n eksperimentele gasturbine opstelling te bou vir verdere navorsing oor die benutting van sonenergie om ’n gasturbine aan te dryf. Die gasturbine in oorweging is die Rover Gas Turbines 1S/60. Die fokus van hierdie ondersoek is die sentrifugale kompressor van die gasturbine. ’n Toename in statiese druk word benodig vir die gasturbine om die verwagte drukverlies in die sentrale ontvanger, wat deel uit maak van die gasturbinesiklus, te hanteer. Die standaard kompressor ontwerp is geanaliseer deur middel van 3-D Berekenings Vloeimeganika (BVM) analises met behulp van CFX® en eksperimentele data. Die nuwe sentrifugale kompressor is ontwerp deur middel van 1-D en 3-D BVM analises met behulp van CompAero en CFX®. Die doel is om ’n kompressor te ontwerp wat die totale-tot-statiese drukverhouding maksimeer. Die grootte van die kompressor is beperk deur die geometrie van die gasturbine omhulsel. Aangesien die turbinerotor onveranderd sal bly, moet die insetdrywing, massa-vloeitempo en rotasiespoed dieselfde bly. Die eksperimentele opstelling is gebou en die numeriese resultate van die standaard kompressor is teenoor die eksperimentele resultate gevalideer. ’n Nuwe sentrifugale kompressor is ontwerp. Die totale-tot-statiese drukverhouding is verhoog van 2.50 tot 3.30 teen ’n rotasiespoed van 46 000 omwentelings per minuut. Die doeltreffendheid van die kompressor is verbeter van 63.8% tot 85.6%. Die insetdrywing van die nuwe kompressor ontwerp het met 1.6% afgewyk van die vasgestelde maatstaf, en met 1.3% van die numeriese data van die standaard kompressor.

<p>Two state of the art finite element reduction techniquespreviously validated against the direct finite element method,one based on classical modal analysis and another based oncomponent mode synthesis, are applied for efficient mistunedfree vibration and forced response analysis of several bladeddisk geometries. The methods are first applied to two testcases in order to demonstrate the differences in computationalefficiency as well as to validate the methods againstexperimental data. As previous studies have indicated, nonoticeable differences in accuracy are detected for the currentapplications, while the method based on classical modalanalysis is significantly more efficient. Experimental data(mistuned frequencies and mode shapes) available for one of thetwo test cases are compared with numerical predictions, and agood match is obtained, which adds to the previous validationof the methods (against the direct finite element method).</p><p>The influence of blade-to-blade coupling and rotation speedon the sensitivity of bladed disks to mistuning is thenstudied. A transonic fan is considered with part span shroudsand without shrouds, respectively, constituting a high and alow blade-to-blade coupling case. For both cases, computationsare performed at rest as well as at various rotation speeds.Mistuning sensitivity is modelled as the dependence ofamplitude magnification on the standard deviation of bladestiffnesses. The finite element reduction technique based onclassical modal analysis is employed for the structuralanalysis. This reduced order model is solved for sets of randomblade stiffnesses with various standard deviations, i.e. MonteCarlo simulations. In order to reduce the sample size, thestatistical data is fitted to a Weibull (type III) parametermodel. Three different parameter estimation techniques areapplied and compared. The key role of blade-to-blade coupling,as well as the ratio of mistuning to coupling, is demonstratedfor the two cases. It is observed that mistuning sensitivityvaries significantly with rotation speed for both fans due toan associated variation in blade-to-blade coupling strength.Focusing on the effect of one specific engine order on themistuned response of the first bending modes, it is observedthat the mistuning sensitivity behaviour of the fan withoutshrouds is unaffected by rotation at its resonant condition,due to insignificant changes in coupling strength at thisspeed. The fan with shrouds, on the other hand, shows asignificantly different behaviour at rest and resonant speed,due to increased coupling under rotation. Comparing the twocases at resonant rotor speeds, the fan without shrouds is lessor equally sensitive to mistuning than the fan with shrouds inthe entire range of mistuning strengths considered.</p><p>This thesis’scientific contribution centres on themistuning sensitivity study, where the effects of shrouds androtation speed are quantified for realistic bladed diskgeometries. However, also the validation of two finite elementreduction techniques against experimental measurementsconstitutes an important contribution.</p>

No description available.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 2016 / Solar powered gas micro-turbines present opportunities for off-grid power generation. Due to the intermittent nature of the solar energy supply, existing Solar Gas Turbine (SGT) plants employ hybridisation with fossil fuels to generate dispatchable power. In this work sensible heat and latent heat storage solutions are investigated as a means of increasing the solar share of a SGT cycle, thus reducing the consumption of diesel fuel. The sensible heat storage concept was based on a pressurised packed bed of spherical ceramic particles, using air as the heat transfer fluid. An axisymmetric, two-phase heat transfer model of the system was developed, based on the continuous solid phase approach. The model was successfully validated against experimental data from a packed bed of alumino-silicate particles over the temperature ranges of gas turbine cycles (350-900 °C and 600-900 °C). The validated numerical model was utilised to conduct a parametric design study of a six hour (1.55 MWhth) storage system for a gas micro-turbine. The results show that a high storage efficiency and high utilisation factor can be achieved when combining sensible heat storage in alumina with fossil fuel hybridisation, with somewhat lower values without hybridisation. An analysis of different inventory geometries showed that a packed bed of spherical particles is best suited to pressurised sensible heat storage. The latent heat storage concept was based on a pressurised packed bed of Encapsulated Phase Change Material (EPCM) particles. Sodium sulphate was identified as a suitable phase change material for the gas turbine cycle. The sensible heat storage model was extended to account for intra-particle temperature gradients and phase change within the particles. The intra-particle phase change model was validated against published experimental data for a single EPCM sphere heated and cooled by convection. The full EPCM storage model was further successfully validated against experimental data from a packed bed of macro- encapsulated sodium sulphate particles with alumina shells, up to a temperature of 950 °C. A comparison of the two storage concepts for a 7 m3 bed shows that a packed bed of en- capsulated sodium sulphate particles would have a 36% lower energy storage capacity than a bed of solid alumina particles. This is due to the limited melt fraction in the EPCM bed when a temperature limit is placed on the base. Increasing the packed bed volume to 10.5 m3 would provide a comparable thermal performance to the 7 m3 solid alumina bed, at a 12% lower storage mass. A hybrid three-layer packed bed is proposed to increase the volumetric energy storage density. Modelling shows that this concept could provide a small increase of 5.3% in the amount of energy discharged above 850 °C, compared to the solid alumina particles only.

Nos últimos 15 anos houve um grande aumento na presença de turbinas a gás no parque gerador de eletricidade brasileiro. O Brasil tem predominantemente climas tropicais e subtropicais com temperaturas oscilando entre 20 e 35C na maior parte do ano. A máxima potência que pode ser gerada por uma turbina a gás aumenta com a redução da temperatura do ar de entrada na turbina. Decorre daí o interesse na aplicação de sistemas de resfriamento do ar de entrada de turbinas. Dentre os sistemas de resfriamento, os de aplicação mais simples são o de resfriamento por meio evaporativo rígido e o de resfriamento por ciclo de compressão com acionamento elétrico. Não há na literatura um estudo sistemático da aplicação de sistemas de resfriamento de ar de entrada de turbinas a gás para operação no Brasil. Este trabalho estuda a aplicação dos dois tipos mais simples de sistemas de resfriamento de ar de entrada em turbinas operando ou a serem instaladas no território brasileiro. Um modelo para simulação da resposta de turbinas a gás às variações nas condições climáticas do ar de entrada (temperatura, umidade e pressão atmosférica) é desenvolvido. O modelo necessita como parâmetros somente de dados publicados em catálogo pelo fabricante da turbina. A simulação é feita para 27 localidades brasileiras comparando a operação de um mesmo tipo de turbina sem resfriamento e com os dois tipos de resfriamento. O dados climáticos usados são dos tipos anos metereológicos típicos e anos teste de referência. O modelo de turbina desenvolvido simula de maneira satisfatória as curvas de uma turbina comercial do tipo heavy duty. Um aumento de energia anual gerada de até 4,2% foi observado para o sistema de resfriamento por meio evaporativo rígido. O aumento de energia no resfriamento evaporativo depende da depressão de bulbo úmido média do local de instalação da turbina. Para o resfriamento por ciclo de compressão com acionamento elétrico o aumento observado foi de até 11,2%. O aumento de energia para este tipo de sistema depende da temperatura de bulbo seco média do local. / In the last 15 years an ever increasing presence of gas turbines was felt in electrical power generation in Brazil. Tropical and subtropical climates dominate most of the country, with temperatures ranging from 20 to 35C during most of the year. The maximum power that can be generated by a gas turbine increases at lower inlet air temperatures. Consequently, there is great interest in applying inlet air cooling systems in gas turbines. Among the inlet air cooling systems, the evaporative cooling by rigid wet media and the compression thermal cycle with electrical power chiller systems are the ones with most straightforward implementation. There is no systematic study of the application of gas turbine inlet air cooling systems for turbines operating in Brazil. This thesis studies the application of the two methods of gas turbine inlet air cooling mentioned above in turbines operating or to be installed in Brazil. A model to simulate the response of gas turbines to changes in the inlet air (temperature, humidity and pressure) is developed. The model uses turbine catalogue data as parameters. The simulation is performed for 27 Brazilian locations, comparing the operation of a model of turbine operating with and without cooling systems, for both types of cooling systems. Typical meteorological year and test reference year data are used in the study. The turbine model developed reproduces the turbines data curves with satisfactory accuracy. An annual increase in energy generation of up to 4,2% was observed for evaporative cooling. The energy gain for evaporative cooling depends on the annual mean wet bulb depression of the local. The compression thermal cycle increases the annual energy generation by up to 11,2%. The energy increase in this type of system depends on the mean dry bulb temperature of the local.

Ce travail propose l’investigation d’une approche physique 0D/1D modélisant les brûleurs de turbines à gaz, prenant en compte l’évaporation du carburant, la turbulence, la combustion, et permet la représentation de zones de dilution et l’implémentation de modèles de chimie des polluants. Il s’agit de sous-modèles répartis dans des composants assemblables dans un environnement numérique multi-domaines basé sur le formalisme de Bond Graph. Ceci permet, par exemple, l’assemblage de plusieurs volumes ouverts en un tube à flamme, l’ajout d’un compresseur et d’une turbine, ou bien aussi d’intégrer des chaînes de commande afin de représenter un hélicoptère complet. L’originalité de cette thèse réside dans l’application d’un paradigme de combustion 0D, issu d’une approche 3D élaborée chez IFP Energies nouvelles et appliquée avec succès aux moteurs alternatifs ainsi qu’à des turbines à gaz. Le sous-modèle intègre le formalisme de flamme cohérente qui distingue une zone de gaz frais d’une zone de gaz brûlés. Les deux zones sont séparées par une flamme turbulente. Le sous-modèle de tube à flamme décrit la flamme grâce à une synthèse issue de résultats de calculs CFD 3D validés par des expériences. En effet, des résultats de calculs LES d’un brûleur expérimental monophasique ont étés analysés pour caractériser la combustion turbulente prémélangée dans un brûleur à tourbilloneur. Enfin, un secteur de brûleur réel de turbomoteur a été étudié à l’aide de simulations CFD afin d’évaluer la pertinence du modèle de tube à flamme 0D/1D et de guider la modélisation permettant de compléter la nouvelle approche de simulation système des turbines à gaz. / This work investigates a unique 0D/1D physical approach for gas turbine combustor modelling. It accounts for fuel evaporation, turbulence, combustion, and allows to represent dilution stages. Detailed pollutants formation models can also be added. The chosen formalism, based on the Bond Graph theory approach, allows to describe systems organised in a series of submodel components such as a series of open volumes forming a flame tube, or a combustor coupled to a compressor and turbine but they can also be combined with control and regulation devices in order to represent a complete rotorcraft. The essence of the PhD strategy is the application of a 0D combustion paradigm, obtained at IFP Energies nouvelles by formal reduction of 3D approaches for gas turbines. More in details, a new combustion model was developed integrating the Coherent Flame Model (CFM) formalism which allows to distinguish between fresh gases and burned gases separating them with a turbulent flame. The flame tube submodel features a physical description of the flame thanks to thorough understanding given by 3D CFD simulation results validated against experimental measurements. More specifically, LES results corresponding to a single phase test rig were analysed in order to characterise premixed turbulent combustion in a swirl burner. Finally, a real turboshaft combustor sector case was studied by means of CFD simulations to investigate the relevance of the 0D/1D flame tube model and to determine modelling strategies for the completion of the new gas turbine system simulation approach.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND AERO / Includes bibliographical references. / by Wen Liu. / M.S.

Thesis (Sc.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1979. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / Sc.D.

Thesis. 1976. Sc.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Aeronautics and Astronautics. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Barker. / Vita. / Includes bibliographical references. / Sc.D.