Lecture 1

Gas Turbine Cycles

Reference: Chapter -9
(Applied Thermodynamics by T. D Eastop and A. McConkey)
Gas Turbines
 Working Principle

• Energy is added to the gas stream

• Combustion increases the temperature, velocity, and
volume of the gas flow
• Turbine rotates, powering the compressor
• Energy is then extracted in the form of shaft power,
compressed air and thrust

Gas turbine (Stationary Plant) Gas Turbine in Aircraft

Advantages of gas turbine engines

• Very high power-to-weight ratio

• More size efficient
• Moves in one direction only, with fewer moving parts
• Low operating pressures
• High operation speeds
• Low lubricating oil cost and consumption
Disadvantages of gas turbine engines

• More expensive compared to a similar-sized reciprocating

engine
• More complex machining operations
• Usually less efficient than reciprocating engines,
especially at idle
• Delayed response to changes in power settings
 Brayton Cycle

• Gas turbines are described thermodynamically by the

Brayton cycle
• In this cycle:
1. air is compressed isentropically
2. combustion occurs at constant pressure
3. heated air expands through the turbine
4. heat is rejected into the atmosphere
The Practical Gas Turbine Cycle
Open Cycle Gas Turbine Unit
Gas Turbine Cycle on a T-S Diagram
Example 9.1
Gas Turbine Unit and T-S diagram
Use of a Power Turbine
????
Example 9.3 (Practice)
 Aircraft Engines
Simple Turbojet Engine with the cycle on T-S
diagram
Turboprop Engine with the cycle on T-S diagram
Turbofan Engine
Parallel Flow Units
Modifications to the basic Cycle
Intercooling
Reheat
Parallel Flow Units
Example: 9.4
Parallel Flow Units
Parallel Flow Units
Parallel Flow Units
Parallel Flow Units
Reading Assignment on Combustion, in the context of Gas
turbine power plant.

Problems: Cahpter-09 (9.1 to 9.9)