Gas Turbines

Description

The gas turbine is the engine at the canter of the power plant that produces electric current. A gas turbine is a combustion engine that converts natural gas or other liquid fuels to mechanical energy. This energy powers a generator to produce electrical energy. In order to generate electricity, the gas turbine heats a mixture of air and fuel at very high temperatures, causing the turbine blades to spin; converting the energy into electricity. A simple cycle gas turbine can achieve energy conversion efficiencies ranging between 20% to 35%. Future hydrogen and syngas fired gas turbine combined cycle plants are likely to achieve efficiencies of 60% or more. If waste heat is captured from these systems for heating or industrial purposes, the overall energy cycle efficiency could reach 80%. In a real gas turbine, mechanical energy is changed irreversibly into pressure and thermal energy when the gas is compressed. Heat is added in the combustion chamber and the specific volume of the gas increases, accompanied by a slight loss in pressure. Possessing a high thermal efficiency and at the same time possessing all the advantages of a rotary engine, the gas turbine has great potential. This book is offers insight into the basic physical, chemical, and aerodynamic processes associated with gas turbine combustion and their relevance and application to combustor performance and design.