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.