Unit V

GAS TURBINES

Introduction
A gas turbine is a rotary machine. It is similar in principle to steam turbine. It is related to
petrol and diesel engines in its working medium and internal combustion.
A gas turbine unit consists of a compressor, a combustion chamber and turbine.
The atmospheric air is taken into the compressor and compressed. The compressed air is
taken into the compressor and compressed. The compressed air is then heated (either by
direct combustion of fuel or indirect burning of fuel). The heated air with or without
combustion products expand in a turbine doing work.
Most of the turbine work is used to drive the compressor and the remaining work ( about
1/3)is available as useful work.
Classification of turbines
1. Constant pressure combustion gas turbines
a) Closed cycle constant pressure gas
turbine
b) Open cycle constant pressure gas
turbine
2. Constant volume combustion gas turbines
Open cycle
A simple open cycle constant pressure gas turbine consists of compressor, combustion
chamber and turbine.
The air is taken into the compressor from the atmosphere at condition1 and it is
compressed to condition2.
The heat is added by direct burning the fuel into the air in the combustion chamber at
constant pressure during process 2 to 3.
The high pressure, high temperature gases are then passed through the turbine where, it
expands doing mechanical work. The part of the power developed by the turbine is used
for driving the compressor and remaining is available as useful work.
The products of combustion coming from the turbine are exhausted to the atmosphere as
they cannot be used anymore.
The working fluids (air & fuel) must be replaced continuously as they are exhausted into
the atmosphere.

Closed cycle
The compressed fluid comes out from compressor is heated in heater by an external
source at constant pressure and then the high pressure and high temperature fluid
develops the work passing through the turbine.
The fluid coming out from the turbine is cooled to its original temperature T1 in the
cooler using an external cooling source before passing into the compressor.
The major difference between the closed & open cycle is the working fluid is
continuously circulated in the closed cycle whereas, the working fluid continuously
replaced in the open cycle.
The process 4-1 represents the cooling for the working fluid in the cooler in case of
closed cycle whereas the process 4-1 does not represent anything in open cycle. The point
4 represents the condition of the exhaust gases at the outlet of the turbine and they are
exhausted at condition 4 into the atmosphere.
Comparison of open cycle & close cycle gas turbines
Open cycle gas turbine
Closed cycle gas turbine
Advantages
Disadvantages
Simple construction
Complicated construction
It is best suitable for aircrafts since weight Not suitable for aircrafts since weight is
is less
more.
Cost is less
Cost is more
Disadvantages
Advantages
It requires high quality fuel since
Low quality fuel with lower calorific value
combustion is internal
can be used since combustion is external.
Turbine blades are fouled by the
No corrosion of turbine blades since
combustion products
combustion is external.
Internal cleaning of the system is necessary No need for internal cleaning
frequently.
Thermal efficiency is low
Thermal efficiency is high
Thermal Efficiency for Closed cycle Gas Turbine

The air-standard Brayton cycle is the ideal cycle for gas turbine. This cycle is proposed
with constant pressure heat addition and heat rejection with isentropic compression and
expansion.
Sequence of processes
1-2: Isentropic compression
2-3:Constant pressure heat addition
3-4:Isentropic expansion
4-1:Constant pressure heat rejection
Thermal efficiency of a cycle is
m. C p .(T 3T 2) m .C p .(T 4 T 1)
m. C p .(T 3T 2 )

brayton = Wa / Qs =
=

( T 3T 2 ) (T 4 T 1)
(T 3T 2)

=1-

= 1-

[ ]

(T 4 T 1)
(T 3 T 2 )

T1
T2

(
(

T4
1
T1
T3
1
T2

)
)

But we have,
p 3 p2
=
p 4 p1

By gas laws,
p3 T 3
=
p4 T 4

( )

ie

T3
T4

T
= 2
T1

( ) ( )

T3
T
= 2
T4
T1

( )( )
T3
T
= 4
T2
T1

( )( )

p2 T 2
=
p1 T 1

( )

T3
T4
1=
1
T2
T1

( ) ( )

Hence,
brayton=1

T1
T2

1
T2
T1

( )

[( ) ]
1

p2
p1

T2 p2
=
T1 p1

[ ]
1

( Rp)

Jet Propulsion
The basic explanation for all aircraft propulsion is Newtons Third Law of Motion,
which states that for every action there is equal and opposite reaction. In Jet propulsion,
the jet engine produce high velocity jet of hot gases (is the Action) and this jet is used to
propel the vehicles (is the Reaction).
In the case of jet engine, the oxygen required for combustion is taken from
atmosphere. Here the engine takes air in from front of engine at some velocity (depend on
aircraft speed) and after compression and combustion, the exhaust gases comes out of the
rear of the engine at a much higher speed. A large mass of exhaust gases from the jet
engine is forced out of the engine. This is considered as action.
The reaction is the forward force produced by the ejection of exhaust gases. The
forward force depends upon the amount of mass of air through the engine and the extent
to which this air can be accelerated & rejected.
There are several types of jet propulsion systems (or gas power plants) and the
different types are Turbo-jet, Turbo-fan, Turbo-prop and Turbo-shaft engines.
Rocket Propulsion

The thrust required for the propulsion of

rocket is produced by the high velocity jet of gases
passing through the nozzle similar to jet propulsion.
In rocket engine the fuel and oxidizer both are
contained in the propelling body. The rocket can
function in vaccum and is the only device capable of
space flight.
The rocket motor can be propelled with liquid
propellants which uses liquid oxygen and
hydrocarbon fuel which gives high thrust for a longer
duration ( for flight to moon). The propellants are
supplied to the nozzle at a high pressure with the help
of pumps. The high pressure and high temperature
gases formed by the fuel and oxidizer are delivered to
the gas turbine.
The oxidizer used is liquid oxygen and fuels used are
alcohol, gasoline and kerosene. The fuels are
available in liquid form at atmosphere pressure and
temperature at sea-level. The rocket systems using liquid oxygen and one of the fuels
mentioned above are known as semi-cryogenic because one of the two propellants is of
cryogenic nature.
The cryogenic propellants combination of chief interest is hydrogen and liquid
oxygen because this combination gives the highest energy release among all
combinations.
The present combination of propellants which gives the high specific thrust is liquid
fluorine as oxidizer and liquid hydrogen as fuel. The major difficulty with this
combination of propellant is the high intensity of reaction and the special devices
necessary for handling the fluorine as it is reactive.
University Questions
3marks
1 Explain basic principle of Gas turbines. Mention its types.
2 Explain the thermal efficiency of gas turbines
3 Briefly explain the working of Jet propulsion
12 marks
1 Describe the principle and working of Rocket propulsion with neat diagram.
2 Explain the working of closed cycle gas turbines
3 State the principle and working of gas turbines. Discuss its classifications
4 a) Write a note on thermal efficiency of gas turbines
b) Describe the working of Rocket propulsion.