GAS TURBINEs

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 The gas-turbine operates on the principle of the Brayton
cycle, where compressed air is mixed with fuel, and burned
under constant pressure conditions. The resulting hot gas is
allowed to expand through a turbine to perform work.

As the principle of the gas turbine, a working gas (air) is

compressed by a compressor and heated by combustion energy
of the fuel at the first. ... The engine converts the energy of
working gas into the rotating energy of the blades, making use
of the interaction between the gas and the blades.

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BASIC Gas Turbine Engine (GTE) Operation Theory.

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Gas Turbine Process

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 Gas Turbine Process
1. Air is taken in through the air inlet duct by the compressor. There it is
raised in pressure and discharged into the combustion chamber (or
combustor).
2. Fuel is admitted into the combustion chamber by the fuel nozzle(s). The
fuel-air mixture is ignited by an igniter(s) (not shown) and combustion
occurs.
3. The hot and rapidly expanding gases are directed through the turbine
rotor assembly. There, thermal and kinetic energy are converted into
mechanical energy. The gases are then directed out through the exhaust
duct.
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 Brayton Cycle
A thermodynamic cycle using constant pressure,
heat addition and rejection. Fuel and a compressor
are used to heat and increase the pressure of a gas;
the gas expands and spins the blades of a turbine,
which, when connected to a generator, generates
electricity.
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Intake: At point 1, air enters the
inlet at atmospheric pressure and
ambient temperature.
Compression (1-2): As the air
passes through the compressor, it
increases in pressure and
temperature and decreases in
volume.
((T-S)Isentropic compression
(entropy constant)

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Combustion (2-3): Here, combustion occurs at
constant pressure while the addition of heat causes
a sharp increase in volume.
((T-S) constant pressure heat addition).
Expansion (3-4): The gases at constant pressure
and increased volume enter the turbine and expand
through it. As the gases pass through the turbine
rotor, the rotor turns kinetic energy into
mechanical energy. The expanding size of the
passages causes further increase in volume and a
sharp decrease in pressure and temperature.
((T-S) isentropic expansion)
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Exhaust (4-1): The gases are
released through the stack with a
large drop in volume and at
constant pressure. The cycle is
continuous and repetitive in a Gas
turbine. The functions occur
simultaneously throughout the
system.
((T-S)constant pressure heat
rejection) 11
 Classification
 According to the path of working substance
(a) Closed Cycle gas turbine
 The working substance is confirmed within the plant.
(b) Open Cycle gas turbine
 This means the working fluid is taken in, used, and
discarded. (I.e. entire flow comes from the atmosphere
and is returned to the atmosphere).
(a) Semi-closed gas turbine
Combination of two turbines.one closed and other open
cycle.
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 Classification
 According to process of heat
absorption
(a) Constant pressure gas turbine
 Air is heated in the combustion chamber at constant
pressure
(b) Constant Volume
 Air is heated in the combustion chamber at constant
volume (academic purpose)

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 Closed Cycle gas turbines
 (1-2) Heating of air in heating chamber at constant pr.
 (2-3) Isentropic expansion of air
 (3-4) Colling of air at constant pr. In cooling chamber.
 (4-1) Isentropic compression of air in the co0mpressor

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Closed Cycle gas turbines

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 Open Cycle Gas Turbines
 Air taken from atmosphere compressed
isentropic ally
 Then directed to combustion chamber &
Heated by combustion of fuel
 Product of combustion get mixed up with
the compressed air thus increasing the
mass of compressed air
 Hot gas made to flow over turbine blades
 Get expanded and exhausted to
atmosphere

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 Thermal Efficiency

Assumptions

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 Thermal Efficiency

 Work developed by turbine- work required by

compressor / Heat supplied

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Net work done by turbine

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Now substituting T1 & T2 in equation A

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 Methods of improving the efficiency

 Regeneration
 Inter cooling
 Reheating

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 1.Regeneration
 Exhaust heat carry large amount
of heat
 It can be utilised by a
regenerator or heat exchanger
 Which preheat the gas before it
enters the combustion chamber
 Which reduce the mass of the
fuel supplied in the combustion
chamber.
 Hence improve the thermal
efficiency
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Inter cooling
The work required by the compressor to compress the
air can be reduced by compressing it in two stages with
a intercooler in between two stages

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 Inter cooling

 (1-2) Heating of air in the heating chamber at constant pressure

 (2-3) Isentropic expansion of air in the turbine
 (3-4) Cooling of air in the cooling chamber at constant pressure.
 (4-5) Compression of air in the L.P compressor
 (5-6) Cooling of air in the inter cooler at constant pressure 25
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  Reheating
 The thermal efficiency of a turbine can be
improved by expanding the gases in two stages
with a re-heater between the two

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 Reheating
 (1-2) Shows heating of air in first heating
chamber at constant pr.
 (2-3) Shows isentropic expansion of air in
first turbine
 (3-4) Heating of air in second heating
chamber at constant pr.
 (4-5) Shows isentropic expansion of air in
the second turbine
 (5-6) Cooling of air in the inter cooler at
constant pr.
 (6-1) Compression of air in the compressor
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Reheating

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Uses of Gas Turbines

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 Combustion chambers for gas turbines

 A combustion chamber is where the fuel is burned at

constant temperature with air and gas turbine, where
the air is expanded to generate electricity.

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 Zonal method of introducing air
Primary zone (15-20% air)

• Air is introduced around

the jet of fuel
• burns at approximately the
Stoichiometric Ratio
• Therefore, High
temperature
• And thus, Rapid
Combustion
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Secondary Zone (30% air)
• Introduced through holes
in the flame-tube in the
secondary zone to complete
the combustion
• For high combustion
efficiency, air must be
injected carefully at the
right points in the process,
to avoid chilling the flame
locally and drastically
reducing the reaction rate in
that neighbourhood
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Tertiary Zone (remaining air)
• Dilution Zone
• Cooling
• Sufficient turbulence must
be promoted so that the hot
and cold streams are
thoroughly mixed to give the
desired outlet temperature
distribution, with no hot
streaks which would damage
the turbine blades.
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Types of Combustion Chambers
1. Can Type (Tubular)
2. Cannular Type (Tubo-annular)
3. Annular Type

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 Pressure Loss in Combustion Process
Due to…..
Rise in temperature:
 During combustion an increase in temperature
implies a decrease in density
 consequently an increase in velocity and momentum
of the stream.
 A pressure drop (Δ p x A) must be present to impart
the increase in momentum.
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 Pressure Loss in Combustion Process
Due to…..
 Cold loss
 Skin friction
 Turbulence
The pressure loss due to friction is found to be very
much higher than that due to combustion, mainly due
to turbulence, which is required for proper mixing and
Temperature uniformity.
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 Combustion Stability Loop.
 Combustion stability means smooth burning
and ability of flame to remain alight over a
wide range of operation.
 There are both lean and rich limits to air/fuel
ratio beyond which flame is extinguished.
 Usually the limit is taken as the air/fuel ratio
at which the flame blows out, although
instability often occurs before this limit is
reached.
 A typical stability loop where the limiting
air/fuel ratio is plotted against air mass flow.
 The stability loop is a function of the
pressure in the chamber. A decrease in
pressure narrows the stability limits.
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