GAS TURBINES

A windmill was the 1st turbine to produce some useful work, there was no pre-compression and combustion. these are characteristic features of gas turbine This is the satisfactorily way of producing power Gas turbines are used in a wide range of services(Aviation, Power Generation, Oil and gas industry, marine propulsion) They power aircraft of all types and drive mechanical equipment such as pumps, compressors, and generators in electric utilities. They also generate power for peak loads and base-load duties Recently, the interest in gas turbines has grown significantly in combined-cycle plants Thermal efficiency of gas turbine power plants alone is 20 to 30%

 With combined plants the efficiency is 45% they are light weight, not requiring cooling water It is selected for power generation because of its simplicity, lack of cooling, ,quick installation, quick starting, Limitations: They are not self starting Lower efficiencies No reversibility Higher rotor speeds

 In last two decades rapid progress has been observes in following areas: Increase in plant capacities of gas turbine units from 50 to 100Mw Increase in their efficiencies Drop in capital cost

 Combustion raises the temp and pressure Hot pressurized air is then sent to turbine Hot gas expands in turbine and produces mechanical power If exhaust is sent to atmosphere then it is called open cycle gas turbine power plant Some times two turbines are used H.P for compressor and L.P for the alternator. synchronous speed can be obtained by this arrangement by L.P turbine Speed of H.P turbine is varied according to the load

 Pressure ratio is 5:1, 5 times air is compressed to atmospheric pressure Temperature in combustion chamber is 1600c 800c -500c are safe temperatures for turbines Part of direct compresses air is sent in turbine to maintain temperature Therefore efficiency is very low, 65% power is used in driving the compressor And hot gases are cooled so efficiency is reduced.