A Computer-Assisted

Approach to Industrial Gas

Turbine Performance
Calculation
A. ALPER OZALP
Mechanical Engineering Department, Uludag University, 16059 Gorukle, Bursa, Turkey

Received 12 January 1999; accepted 10 June 1999

ABSTRACT: This article presents a microcomputer-based, interactive, menu-driven

visual software package developed to investigate design, off-design, and transient opera-
tions of single- and twin-shaft industrial gas turbines, providing mechanical engineering
students with the opportunity for flexible operation within the courseware and its software
environment. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 7: 171–179, 1999

Keywords: software package; off-design; transient; industrial gas turbine

INTRODUCTION methods seem to best complement engineering edu-

cation [1–5].
Because personal computers are getting faster, more The gas turbine is one of the most satisfactory
powerful, more reliable, and cheaper, their areas of mechanical power-producing engines in industry. The
application are also becoming widespread, including main feature of a gas turbine which distinguishes it
research centers and universities. Special user- from others is its operation logic. Thermodynamic
friendly visual computer programs are suited for ob- processes such as compression, combustion, and ex-
taining a fundamental understanding of the principles pansion are performed in individual and special com-
underlying the design and operation of gas turbines. ponents: mainly, compressor, combustion chamber,
Such programs are easy to use even for people with and turbine. Overall performance calculation of gas
little experience with personal computers. For educa- turbines covers the interrelated thermodynamic anal-
tional purposes, they not only give students the op- ysis of these components and can be executed with the
portunity to learn rapidly, but also enable them to
help of the Brayton cycle [6]. The deviation of actual
tackle a wide range of applications of a certain prin-
compression and expansion behaviors from idealized
ciple by employing various types of problem-solving
isentropic cases can be accounted for accurately by
approaches. Because calculations are performed rap-
using compressor and turbine isentropic efficiencies.
idly, problem solving is no longer time-consuming.
Therefore, computer-aided teaching and learning Furthermore, combustion efficiency and pressure loss
values indicate the shift amount of the actual gas
turbine cycle from the idealized one. Figure 1 shows
© 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. CCC 1061-3773/99/030171-09 the deviation of an actual gas turbine cycle from the
171
172 OZALP

actual systems. Results can be presented in graphical

format, which enables students to visualize the change
of any parameter with respect to another.

GT-POWER

GT-POWER is written in the Visual Basic 3.0 pro-

fessional language [8] and can be run on any IBM-
compatible PC which has at least a 486 DX processor
Figure 1 Deviation of Brayton cycle as a result of irre- and Windows 3.1. A color monitor is necessary to
versibilities [6]. benefit from the colorful user interfaces and output
screens. The package’s hierarchical structure, shown
in Figure 3, is divided into four main modules. These
ideal Brayton cycle as a result of irreversibilities, modules are responsible for database operations, input
where subscript “a” refers to the actual, and “s” the and configuration procedures, a project solver, and
isentropic case. documental and graphical outputs. Throughout the
When the object is the production of shaft power, package, different operations are carried out by click-
these components can be linked together in various ing the relevant menu entries, which are displayed on
ways. If the required operation is at a fixed speed and the screen.
fixed load, the single-shaft gas turbine (SS-GT) ar- The first module coordinates the database opera-
rangement is suitable. A heat exchanger may be tions. A precreated database contains the available
added, as shown in Figure 2(a). If flexibility of oper- real-time industrial gas turbines together with the
ation is of paramount importance, the twin-shaft gas name of the engine, types of compressor and turbine,
turbine (TS-GT) is desirable, as shown in Figure 2(b). and design operation point values such as rotational
Because of the need to use complex compressor and speed, compressor pressure ratio, turbine inlet tem-
turbine characteristics, courses on gas turbine theory– perature, and air flow rate. Since it is a dynamic
applications generally concentrate on cycle calcula- database, the user can add a new gas turbine and
tions regarding design point performance [6,7]. When delete an existing one. Tables 1 and 2 [9] list some of
off-design and transient calculations are considered, the available SS-GT and TS-GT arrangements.
complete compressor and turbine characteristics must The second module, charged with the input and
be used, which results in iterative and time-consum- configuration procedures, works through the “Config-
ing calculations. Furthermore, various parameters uration Menu.” Configuration operation covers not
which affect the performance of gas turbines can be only the design of certain components of the gas
obtained only by complex and extensive computa- turbine, but also the determination of the unit and fuel
tions, which forces the majority of engineering stu- types and ambient conditions. Furthermore, the pri-
dents to own a personal computer and to benefit from mary component, the gas turbine, is chosen from the
its speed and graphical utilities. available database through this menu. Necessary in-
To solve these time-consuming problems, a com-
puter program, GT-POWER, was developed in the
Department of Mechanical Engineering of Middle
East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. The
program not only performs design, off-design, and
transient analysis, but also investigates the effects of
compressor pressure ratio, turbine inlet temperature,
fuel type, environmental conditions, and heat ex-
changers on power outputs of real-time industrial gas
turbines. GT-POWER covers SS-GT and TS-GT ap-
plications, which are supported by a real-time gas
turbine database containing data (design information
such as rotational speed, compressor pressure ratio,
turbine inlet temperature, and air flow rate) of real-
time industrial gas turbines. This dynamic database Figure 2 (a) SS-GT arrangement with heat exchanger; (b)
gives students the opportunity to perform runs on TS-GT arrangement [7].
 GAS TURBINE PERFORMANCE CALCULATION 173

Figure 3 Hierarchical structure of the program.

formation and data such as pressure losses, efficien- user may be interested in a mixture of these fuels and
cies, effectiveness, temperatures, and characteristics obtain the desired one by defining it in the “User-
are input within the areas that appear when an entry is Defined” subentry. Table 3 [6] lists the available fuels
clicked. Eleven different fuels are provided under the with their properties. Input and configuration menus
“Fuel” entry, where the subentries are given the of SS-GT and TS-GT are very similar; Figure 4 dis-
names of fuels such as “Methane” and “Ethane.” The plays the “SS-GT Configuration Menu.”

Table 1 Some of the Available SS-GT [9]

Gas Turbine ṁ Design Speed T ti
Designer Name Name PRc (kg/s) (rpm) (K)
General Electric MS5001P 10.2 121.1 5105 1258
General Electric MS6001B 11.5 136.53 5105 1377
Centrax CS 600-2 5.25 4.88 22000 1110
Detroit Allison 501KC 9.5 15 14000 1255
Westinghouse W-501D 14 368.8 3600 1358
Turbomeca Bastan VI 5.5 4.39 32750 1200
Turbomeca Astazou IV 5.6 2.55 43500 1150
Rolls-Royce Ltd. Avon 9 77.1 7550 1083
174 OZALP

Table 2 Some of the Available TS-GT [9]

Gas Turbine ṁ Design Speed T ti
Designer Name Name PRc (kg/s) (rpm) (K)
Avco Lycoming TF 25 6.9 9.52 18700–14,500 1241
Hispano-Suiza THM 1103 6.7 29 11600–7600 1148
Solar Turbines Mars 16 37.2 10780–8120 1269
Stal-Laval Turbin GT35 10.4 79 5500–6000 1083
Turbomeca Turmo III 4.9 5.41 31100–19,850 1183
Thomassen Holland TF-10 8.9 25 10940–9200 1390
Sulzer Brothers Type 3/S3 8.9 31.6 10600–8600 1243
Solar Turbines Centaur 9 17.24 15015–15,700 1151

The third module is responsible for the project ized by the compressor speed and by either the turbine
solver. To start a cycle (steady) or transient analysis, inlet temperature or the fuel flow rate or power output.
the subentry “Cycle Analysis” or “Transient Analysis” Transient runs not only simulate the acceleration and
should be chosen, respectively. Three subrun options deceleration of the compressor rotor but also investi-
are available in the “Cycle Analysis” menu. Compressor gate constant compressor speed projects where the
speed knowledge is essential for all options, whereas power output is changed by shifting the operation
in the first two the run can be based on either the point on the constant speed curve of the compressor
turbine inlet temperature or the power output. Results characteristics.
cover 23 data for SS-GT and 24 data for TS-GT, such Solution procedures of both steady and transient
as the compressor pressure ratio, compressor inlet and analysis are highly iterative; the possible operation
exit temperatures, air flow rate, specific fuel consump- points on the constant speed curve of the compressor
tion, fuel flow rate, and thermal efficiency. The third characteristics are tried one by one until the appropri-
subrun determines the possible turbine inlet tempera- ate point that satisfies the user’s input demands is
ture range at that compressor speed. Such a practice obtained. As the steady analysis run time on a Pen-
facilitates the opportunity to visualize the possible tium 133 PC is a few seconds, that of a transient
operating points and upper and lower power output analysis takes about 1 min.
limits, controlling the possible turbine inlet tempera- The fourth module, documental and graphical out-
ture and thermal efficiency at a constant compressor puts, is not enabled until a project is completed suc-
speed. Selection of these subruns is confirmed cessfully. The above-mentioned calculated parame-
through the appropriate option boxes in Figure 5. ters are the source of output operations. Results of a
The transient analysis input procedure, which is run can be saved in MS-DOS files with predefined
carried out in the “Initial-Final Point Configuration formats, storing not only the outputs but also the
Menu” (Fig. 6), covers determination of the initial and system configuration. One of the main goals of GT-
final points of the run. These points can be character- POWER is to plot the variation of any parameter

Table 3 Available Fuels with Properties [6]

Fuel Name: Cx Hy Oz x y z C p (kJ/kg K) h# f0 (kJ/kmol) LHV (kJ/kg)
Methane 1 4 0 3.8 274850 50614
Acetylene 2 2 0 2.4 226730 48292
Ethylene 2 4 0 2.84 52280 47249
Ethane 2 6 0 3.37 284680 47597
Propylene 3 6 0 2.87 20410 45869
Propane 3 8 0 3.28 2103850 46455
n-Butane 4 10 0 3.24 2126150 45812
n-Octane 8 18 0 1.71 2208450 44879
Benzene 6 6 0 2.18 82930 40635
Methanol 1 4 1 2.19 2200670 21142
Ethanol 2 6 1 2.69 2277690 27767
 GAS TURBINE PERFORMANCE CALCULATION 175

Figure 4 SS-GT configuration menu.

versus another. Through the “Graphs” entry, highly with all necessary input data and achieve the off-
sensitive plots automatically scaled with round num- design operation point satisfying the output demand.
bers are available. Since the output power is requested in kilowatts, the
Throughout the input and analysis procedure, the SI unit system is selected. During the configuration,
user must not only input many data values, but also inlet and exit duct pressure loss amounts are given as
make a lot of selections. A wrong or illogical value or 2% of the inlet values; combustion efficiency and
unselected option will result in incorrect outputs. GT- combustion pressure loss are taken as 98% and 2%,
POWER is equipped with a special subprogram, “Ex- respectively; methane is selected as the fuel; mechan-
ecution Controller,” to prevent such cases. Execution ical efficiency and fuel temperatures are considered to
Controller operates as the program is started and be 98% and 15°C, respectively; and the gas turbine is
informs the user not only about the errors but also supposed to be constructed at sea level, where the
about the current state of a continuing project by ambient temperature is 15°C. Finally, TF25 is se-
certain messages. lected from the database with design point values. The
input procedure is completed by choosing the “Anal-
ysis” entry. The requested speed and power output
DEMONSTRATING PROJECTS data are also input to start the execution. To obtain the
operation point satisfying the requested power output,
In this section, three example projects—the first two the iterations are only a matter of a few seconds. As
for steady and the third one for transient analysis—are shown in Figure 7, all cycle parameters are displayed
presented to demonstrate the computational and in tabular form on the screen. The upper part of Figure
graphical utilities of the program and to show how it
leads to a deeper understanding of the subject material.

Steady Cycle Analysis of a TS-GT

TF25 type TS-GT (Avco Lycoming) should be run at
18000 rpm. The desired power output at this speed is
1100 kW. The subject is to configure the gas turbine

Figure 5 SS-GT cycle analysis menu. Figure 6 Initial point configuration menu.
176 OZALP

Figure 7 TS-GT cycle analysis results menu.

7 demonstrates the system configuration; the lower output and fuel flow rate increase in a nearly linear
part covers the results. The results table includes not manner; the decreasing trends for air flow rate and
only the thermodynamic values at the inlet and exit of specific fuel consumption and increasing intent of ther-
the components, but also certain cycle values such as mal efficiency are plotted in Figure 8(c–e), respectively.
fuel/air ratio, air and fuel flow rates, compressor and At higher values of turbine inlet temperature, specific
turbine pressure ratios, specific fuel consumption, and fuel consumption converges to a minimum value,
thermal efficiency. Furthermore, compressor and whereas the thermal efficiency leads to a maximum.
power turbine speeds and turbine operation conditions
(choked or unchoked) are also depicted.
Transient Analysis of a SS-GT
MS6001B type SS-GT (General Electric) is chosen
Steady Cycle Analysis for a Range of
for a transient run. At the initial working point,
Turbine Inlet Temperatures of a SS-GT
MS6001B produces a power output of 35000 hp at
501KC type SS-GT (Detroit Allison) was selected to 5200 rpm. The speed of the final operation point is
be tested for the desired operation range at 14000 selected as 5300 rpm; at this speed, the requested
rpm. The input procedure is identical to the previous power output is 40000 hp. The input procedure is
problem where SI unit system and similar data values completed as in the previous examples, but the British
were used. Choosing the “Analysis” entry starts the unit system is used because the desired power output
execution. To obtain the operation range, several op- values are in horsepower. In the transient analysis
eration points on the constant speed curve of the menu, using the subentry “Decide,” initial and final
compressor characteristics may be determined by it- operation points are configured by the given speed
erative methods. and power output values. Execution starts through the
Results can be viewed using the “Graphs” entry. “Perform” subentry, and the duration of this run is
Five different plots showing the variation of certain about 1 min on a Pentium 133 PC.
cycle parameters with respect to turbine inlet temper- “Graphs” entry permits to access the desired plots,
ature are given. As shown in Figure 8(a,b), power which show the variation of certain parameters with
 GAS TURBINE PERFORMANCE CALCULATION 177

Figure 8 Variation of certain cycle parameters with respect to turbine inlet temperature.

respect to time. Figure 9(a) displays the change of by the user. The last two points have the same speed,
compressor speed in time. The run consists of eight meaning that they are on the same constant speed
operation points, the first and the last being requested curve. Figure 9(b), in which the power output varia-
178 OZALP

Figure 9 Variation of certain cycle parameters with respect to time.

tion is plotted, explains the reason. The seventh op- industrial single- and twin-shaft gas turbines is de-
eration point satisfies the final speed input of the user scribed. For clarity of presentation to students, pro-
but not the power output. Thus, between operation gram is equipped with visual menu structures. The
points 7 and 8, a constant speed transient run is package provides the gas turbine theory–applications
performed to obtain the power output as well. Figure course students with an easy-to-use educational tool
9(c) shows the variation in fuel flow rate. The change on inexpensive personal computers. When using the
in fuel flow occurs in the same manner as the power program, students do not deal with the complex logic
output. Finally, variation in acceleration is plotted in behind the iterative analysis procedure, and rather
Figure 9(d). Initial and final points have zero accel- than bothering with the complicated formulations,
eration, meaning that MS6001B runs steadily at these they concentrate on the physics and thermodynamics
points, whereas the other points have close values of gas turbines. The educational benefits and utilities
stating a constant acceleration transient run. Essen- of the menu-driven program are demonstrated by the
tially, Figure 9(b– d) reveals that in gas turbine appli- solutions to three projects. One of the main traits of
cations, rotor acceleration and augmentation of power the program is the possibility of plotting any param-
output are provided by the increase in fuel flow rate. eter versus any other. This facility allows a compre-
hensive analysis of the different parameters involved
in the problem and enables students to study the
CONCLUSION influence of a parameter on the overall system. Ac-
cording to the respective learning focus, the resulting
An educational software package that performs de- outputs can be linked to other related areas of interest
sign, off-design, and transient operations of real-time in mechanical engineering education.
 GAS TURBINE PERFORMANCE CALCULATION 179

NOMENCLATURE mathematical software packages,” Comput Appl Eng

Educ 6 (1998), 169 –180.
Cx Hy Oz chemical composition of fuel [2] A. Campo and C. H. Amón, “A simple way to deter-
Cp specific heat at constant pressure (kJ/kgK) mine the two asymptotic Nusselt number expressions
h# f0
for in-tube, laminar forced convective flows employ-
heat of formation (kJ/kmol)
ing the method of lines,” Comput Appl Eng Educ 6
LHV lower heating value (kJ/kg) (1998), 79 – 87.
ṁ mass flow rate (kg/s) [3] R. J. Ribando and G. W. O’Leary, “Teaching module
PR pressure ratio for one-dimensional, transient conduction,” Comput
T temperature (K) Appl Eng Educ 6 (1998), 41–51.
[4] R. J. Ribando and S. Carlson-Skalak, “General numer-
Subscripts ical scheme for heat exchanger thermal analysis and
design,” Comput Appl Eng Educ 5 (1997), 231–242.
a air [5] O. S. Vidal and M. F. Iskander, “Multimedia modules
c compressor for electromagnetics education,” Comput Appl Eng
ti turbine inlet Educ 5 (1997), 257–267.
[6] Y. A. Çengel and M. A. Boles, Thermodynamics: An
x, y, z chemical composition parameters
Engineering Approach, McGraw-Hill, Singapore, 1989.
[7] H. Cohen, G. F. C. Rogers, and H. I. H. Saravanamut-
too, Gas Turbine Theory, 3rd ed., Wiley, New York,
REFERENCES 1991.
[8] M. A. Burgess, Advanced Visual Basic, 1st ed., Ad-
[1] M. B. Cutlip, J. J. Hwalek, H. E. Nuttall, M. Shacham, dison-Wesley Longman Higher Education, United
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BIOGRAPHY

A. Alper Ozalp has been a research fellow

and assistant instructor in the Department of
Mechanical Engineering at the University of
Uludaĝ at Bursa, Turkey, since 1997. He
received his BS (1994) and MS (1996) de-
grees in mechanical engineering from the
Middle East Technical University (METU)
in Ankara, Turkey. During his research as-
sistant years in METU, he not only contrib-
uted certain projects on design and test of ventilation fans, oil
pumps, and valves, but was also involved in the control group of the
emergency fans of the Ankara Underground system. His research
interests include the theory and applications of industrial and aero
gas turbine engines, fluid and gas dynamics problems, hydrody-
namic lubrication, and engineering software development, espe-
cially visual computer applications in undergraduate mechanical
engineering courses.