Gas Turbines

Gas Turbines
The principal use of the gas turbine engine has been in the field of aviation. However, the large gas turbine units are also used for electric power generation and for marine propulsion. The practical gas turbine cycle (open cycle)

Combustion chamber

Net work output Turbine

Compressor

Air inlet

Exhaust

The compression process is irreversible but approximately adiabatic, similarly the expansion process in the turbine is irreversible but approximately adiabatic.

T
P2 3 2 2 4 4 1 P1

Neglecting the pressure loss in the combustion chamber and assuming that the change in kinetic energy between the various parts in the cycle is negligibly small compared with the enthalpy changes, the flow equation can be applied to each part of the cycle.

s
For the compressor: Work input = c p (T2 T1 ) For the combustion chamber: Heat supplied = c p (T3 T2 ) For the turbine: Work output = c p (T3 T4 ) Net work output = c p (T3 T4 ) c p (T2 T1 ) Thermal efficiency =
Net work output Heat supplied = c p (T 3 T 4 ) c p (T 2 T 1 ) c p (T 3 T 2 )

The specific heat of a real gas varies with temperature. A suitable mean value of cp must be chosen. The isentropic efficiency of the compressor is defined as the ratio of the work required in isentropic compression between P1 and P2 to the actual work required. Neglecting the changes in kinetic energy:

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Gas Turbines
c p (T2 T1 ) c p (T2 T1 )

Compressor isentropic efficiency, c =

T2 T1 T2 T1

Similarly, the isentropic efficiency of the turbine is defined as the ratio of the actual work output to the isentropic work output between the same pressures. Neglecting kinetic energy changes: Turbine isentropic efficiency, t =
c p (T3 T4 ) c p (T3 T4 ) = T3 T4 T3 T4

It is sometimes more convenient to have to separate turbines, one of which drives the compressor while the other provides the power output.

CC

3 H.P. Turbine

Compressor

Air inlet

4 L.P. Turbine

Net work output

T
P2 3 2 4 5 1 5 4 P1 Exhaust

The first, or high pressure turbine is then known as the compressor turbine and the second, or low pressure turbine is called the power turbine. Neglecting kinetic energy changes: Work from H.P. turbine = Work input to compressor
c pg (T3 T4 ) = c pa (T2 T1 )

where cpg and cpa are the specific heats at constant pressure of the gases in the turbine and the air in the compressor respectively. The net work output is then given by the L.P. turbine:
Net work output = c pg (T4 T5 )

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Gas Turbines

In a jet engine the propulsion nozzle takes the place of the low pressure stage turbine.

CC

Compressor

Turbine

Nozzle

5 Exhaust

Air inlet

The aircraft is powered by the reactive thrust of the jet of gases leaving the nozzle, and this high velocity jet is obtained at the expense of the enthalpy drop from 4 to 5. In a turbo-prop engine the turbine drives the compressor and also the airscrew, or propeller.
4 2 CC 3 Exhaust

Propell

Compressor

Turbine

Air inlet

The net work available to drive the propeller is given by: Net work = c p (T3 T4 ) c p (T2 T1 )

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Gas Turbines

In some industrial and marine gas turbine units, the air flow is split into two streams after the compression process is completed.

Compressor

Turbine1

Air inlet

CC1

Exhaust

CC2

Net work output Turbine2

Exhaust

This is called a parallel flow unit. In this system each turbine expands the gases received by it through the full pressure ratio. Modifications to the basic cycle The work ratio and the thermal efficiency of the basic gas turbine cycle are low. These can be improved by increasing the isentropic efficiencies of the compressor and turbine, and this is a matter of blade design and manufacture. The thermal efficiency depends on the maximum cycle temperature as well as on the pressure ratio. The net work output also depends on the pressure ratio and on the maximum cycle temperature. It can be observed that the thermal efficiency reaches a maximum at a different value of pressure ratio than the work output. The choice of pressure ratio is therefore a compromise. (a) Intercooling

Intercooler 3 2 L.P. Compressor H.P. Compressor 4

CC

5 Net work output Turbine

Exhaust 1 Air inlet

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Gas Turbines

T
5 A A 4 4 3 2 2 6 6 1

The work input with intercooling:

c p (T2 T1 ) + c p (T4 T3 )

The work input with no intercooling:

c p (TA T1 ) = c p (T2 T1 ) + c p (TA T2 ) (T4 T3 ) < (TA T2 ) , since the pressure lines diverge

from left to right on the T-s diagram.

s
It can be shown that the best interstage pressure is the one which gives equal pressure ratios in each stage of compression. This means,
P2 P4 = P P3 1

The work input required is a minimum when the pressure ratio in each stage is the same, and when the temperature of the air is cooled in the intercooler back to the value at inlet to the unit.
T3 = T1 Work ratio = work of expansion - work of compression net work output = work of expansion gross work output

It follows, therefore, that when the compressor work input is reduced then the work ratio is increased. However, the heat supplied with intercooling is c p (T5 T4 ) and with no intercooling is c p (T5 TA ) . The heat supplied when intercooling is used is greater than with no intercooling. Although, the net work output is increased by intercooling, it is found in general that the increase in the heat to be supplied causes the thermal efficiency to decrease. (b) Reheat

CC2 CC1 2 4 3 H.P. Turbine 5 Net work output L.P. Turbine

Compressor

Exhaust 1 Air inlet

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Gas Turbines

The work output of the L.P. turbine can be increased by raising the temperature at inlet to this stage. This can be done by placing a second combustion chamber between the two turbine stages in order to heat the gases leaving the H.P. turbine. The line 4-A represents the expansion in the L.P. turbine, if reheating is not used.
3 5

The work output of the H.P. turbine must be exactly equal to the work input required for the compressor.
c pa (T2 T1 ) = c pg (T3 T4 )

4 4 A A

6 6

The net work output which is the work output of the L.P. turbine is given by:

c pg (T5 T6 )

If reheating is not used, then the work of the L.P. turbine is given by, c pg (T4 TA ) . (T5 T6 ) is always greater than (T4 TA ) , so that reheating increases the net work output.
Work ratio = work of expansion - work of compression work of expansion

Therefore, when the work of expansion is increased and the work of compression is unchanged, then the work ratio is increased. Although, the net work is increased by reheating, the heat to be supplied is also increased, and the net effect can be to reduce the thermal efficiency. Heat supplied = c pg (T3 T2 ) + c pg (T5 T4 )

(c) Heat exchanger

Heat exchanger 6

CC 3 2 4

5 Net work output Turbine

Compressor

Air inlet

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Gas Turbines

T
Available temperature difference 3 2 2 6 1

T3=T5 T2=T6

In the ideal heat exchanger, the air would be heated from T2 to T3=T5 and the gases would be cooled from T5 to T6=T2. In practice this is impossible, since a finite temperature difference is required at all points in the heat exchanger in order to overcome the resistance to the heat transfer.

T5 T2 1

3 2 2 5 6

The required temperature difference between the gases and the air entering the heat exchanger is (T6-T2) and the required temperature difference between the gases and the air leaving the heat exchanger is (T5-T3).

s
If no heat is lost from the heat exchanger to the atmosphere, then the heat given up by the gases must be exactly equal to the heat taken up by the air:
& a c pa (T3 T2 ) = m & g c pg (T5 T6 ) m

The assumption that no heat is lost from the heat exchanger is sufficiently accurate in most practical cases. A heat effectiveness is defined to allow for the temperature difference necessary for the transfer of heat.
Effectiveness = heat received by the air maximum possible heat which could be transferred from the gases in the heat exchanger
& a c pa (T3 T2 ) m & g c pg (T5 T2 ) m

Effectiveness =

A more convenient way of assessing the performance of the heat exchanger is to use a thermal ratio, defined as: Thermal ratio =
temperature rise of the air maximum temperature difference available

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Gas Turbines
T3 T2 T5 T2

Thermal ratio =

When a heat exchanger is used then the heat to be supplied in the combustion chamber is reduced, assuming that the maximum cycle temperature is unchanged. The net work output is unchanged and hence the thermal efficiency is increased. Heat supplied by the fuel (without heat exchanger) = c pg (T4 T2 ) Heat supplied by the fuel (with heat exchanger) = c pg (T4 T3 ) Worked Example A 5000 kW gas turbine generating set operates with two compressor stages with intercooling between stages; the overall pressure ratio is 9/1. A high-pressure turbine is used to drive the compressors and a low-pressure turbine drives the generator. The temperature of the gases at entry to the high-pressure turbine is 650 oC and the gases are reheated to 650 oC after expansion in the first turbine. The exhaust gases leaving the low-pressure turbine are passed through a heat exchanger to heat the air leaving the high-pressure stage compressor. The compressors have equal pressure ratios and intercooling is complete between stages. The air inlet temperature to the unit is 15 oC, the isentropic efficiency of each compressor stage is 0.8 and the isentropic efficiency of each turbine stage is 0.85; the heat exchanger thermal ratio is 0.75. A mechanical efficiency of 98% can be assumed for both the power shaft and the compressor turbine shaft. Neglecting all pressure losses and changes in kinetic energy, calculate the thermal efficiency and work ratio of the plant and the mass flow in kg/s. For air take cp = 1.005 kJ/kgK & = 1.4 and for the gases in the combustion chamber, in the turbines and the heat exchanger take cp = 1.15 kJ/kgK & = 1.333 . Neglect the mass of fuel.

Summary P = 5000 kW Two compressor stages with intercooling rp = 9 (overall; Pmax/Pmin) H.P. turbine drives the compressors L.P. turbine drives the generator T = 650 oC at entry to H.P. turbine T = 650 oC at entry to L.P. turbine Heat exchanger (L.P. turbine exit H.P. turbine CC entry) rcomp1 = r comp2, Tinlet,LPc = Tinlet,HPc T1 = 15 oC comp = 0.8, turb = 0.85, T/R = 0.75, mech = 0.98 Air: cp = 1.005 kJ/kgK, = 1.4 Combustion gases: cp =1.15 kJ/kgK, = 1.333

Calculate
& =? th = ?, W / R = ?, m

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Gas Turbines

Intercooler 3 2 L.P. Compressor H.P. Compressor 4 1 Air inlet 10

CC2

H.P. Turbine

5
CC1

6 7

Heat exchanger

Net work output L.P. Turbine

T
6 8

7 9 9

Each compressor has the same pressure ratio and isentropic efficiency, then the work input required for each compressor will be identical, since both compressors have the same inlet temperature, i.e.
T1 = T3 , and T2 = T4

2 2

10

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Gas Turbines

Isentropic Relationship:
T2 P2 = T1 1 P
1

, and

P2 P P = 9 = 3 , since 2 = 4 P P P2 1 q

0.4

T2 = 288 31.4 = 394 K

comp =

T2 T1 = 0.8, T2 T1

T2 T1 =

394 288 106 = = 132.5 K 0.8 0.8

T2 = 288 + 132.5 = 420.5 K

Work input per compressor stage:

= c pa (T2 T1 ) = 1.005 132.5 = 133.1 kJ/kg

The H.P. turbine is required to drive both compressors and to overcome mechanical friction. Work output of H.P. turbine =
c pg (T6 T7 ) = 272, 923 T7 = 272 = 236.5 K, 1.15

2 133.1 = 272 kJ/kg 0.98 1.15(923 T7 ) = 272

T7 = 923 236.5 = 686.5 K 236.5 = 278 K 0.85

HPt =

T6 T7 = 0.85, T6 T7

T6 T7 =

T7 = 923 278 = 645 K

Isentropic relationship,
P6 T6 1 923 0.333 = = 4.19 = P7 645 T7 P 9 Then, 8 = = 2.147 P9 4.19

1.333

Isentropic relationship,
T8 P8 = T9 P9
1
0.333

= 2.147 1.333 = 1.211,

T9 =

923 = 762.6 K 1.211

LPt =

T8 T9 = 0.85, T8 T9

T8 T9 = 0.85 (923 762.6) = 0.85 160.4 = 136.3 K

T9 = 923 136.3 = 786.7 K

Net work output = c pg (T8 T9 ) 0.98 = 1.15 136.3 0.98 = 153.7 kJ/kg Thermal ratio of heat exchanger =
T5 = 420.5 + 274.7 = 695.2 K T5 T4 = 0.75 T9 T4

T5 420.5 = 0.75 (786.7 420.5) = 0.75 366.2 = 274.7 K

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Gas Turbines

Heat supplied = c pg (T6 T5 ) + c pg (T8 T7 ) = 1.15 (923 695.2) + 1.15 (923 686.5) = 534 kJ/kg
th =
W 153.7 = = 0.288, or 534 Q
28.8%

Gross work of the plant = work of H.P. turbine + work of L.P. turbine Gross work = 272 +
153.7 = 429 kJ/kg 0.98 net work output 153.7 Work ratio = = = 0.358 gross work output 429

& kg/s, Then, The electrical output is 5000 kW. Let the mass flow rate be m
& 153.7 5000 = m &= m 5000 = 32.6 kg/s 153.7

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