Advanced Research Programs In Turbomachinery

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to acquaint the reader with the developments in the field of turbomachinery. The research conducted at the Gas Turbine Laboratories has two primary goals. First, to improve the efficiency of high speed rotating machinery, and secondly, to increase the reliability of the system. This paper covers both areas by looking into the improvement in characteristics of centrifugal compressors and combustors; and by dealing with the maintainability and reliability of high speed turbomachinery. The paper deals with various techniques developed at the Laboratories to describe the flow in centrifugal impellers. Once the flow patterns in a compressor are known, various concepts can be utilized to improve the efficiency. One such concept is the tandem inducer described here. This concept shows an increase in the efficiency and surge-to-stall margin. This concept also indicates that the traditional positioning of the splitter blades is not optimum. Combustors designed with high efficiency and low emission characteristics are also described here. Multiple fuel characteristics and their effect on turbine life, and other maintenance characteristics are further described here in detail.