Analysis of a Supercharged Gas Turbine Engine Concept and Preliminary Investigation of a Version Using Argon as the Working Fluid
2022-01-0715
03/29/2022
- Content
- The paper presents results from a study into the potential of a complex cycle gas turbine engine, originally investigated by the Ford Motor Company for truck applications in the 1960s, updated to gauge the possible improvements by raising the efficiencies of its constituent components from the values used in period to modern levels. To perform this investigation, firstly a spreadsheet model was constructed and the available literature data used to validate it. The methodology used in the model was to balance the power consumed by the compressors (and auxiliaries where applicable) with that produced by their driving turbines, and to match the thermal power in the heat exchangers with the data provided. Using the quoted lower heating value of the diesel fuel originally used this approach led to an accuracy of 100% (using three places of decimals in brake specific fuel consumption). Any improvement in the devices would then manifest in an increase in expansion ratio of the power turbine and, for the same system heat input, more power and a concomitant increase in thermal efficiency. The expected improvement in efficiency with an increase in turbine inlet temperature was also shown by its being raised from the original 1200 K up to 2000 K, with the efficiency relationship becoming asymptotic. The second stage of the study was a preliminary investigation of the effects of operating the evolved concept using argon as the working fluid, imagined to be achieved by closing the cycle and adding a heat exchanger in the bottom part of the cycle. This showed the potential of the Brayton cycle in this regard: the improvement in cycle efficiency at the overall system pressure ratio of 15.2 was 20.9% versus the 22.6% predicted from theory. It is considered that this concept is worthy of further study.
- Citation
- Turner, J., and Togawa, K., "Analysis of a Supercharged Gas Turbine Engine Concept and Preliminary Investigation of a Version Using Argon as the Working Fluid," SAE Technical Paper 2022-01-0715, 2022, .