MODULE V

GAS TURBINES

PART A

1. List down the assumptions involved in Brayton cycle analysis (3)

Assumptions for Brayton cycle analysis:
(1) There are four internally reversible processes,
(2) The working fluid is air,
(3) Heat is added to the air somehow (simulating the process in the burner), and
(4) the cycle is complete by having a heat exchanger between the turbine exhaust and the
compressor intake.
2. Draw the p-v diagram and T-s diagram of Brayton cycle. (3)

3. With a neat sketch explaining Brayton Cycle (3)

 It is a constant pressure (isobaric) cycle, meaning heat addition and rejection

occur at constant pressure.

(a) Intake: At point 1, air enters the inlet at atmospheric pressure and ambient
temperature.
(b) Compression (1-2): As the air passes through the compressor, it increases in
pressure and temperature and decreases in volume.
((T-S) Isentropic compression (entropy constant)
(c) Combustion (2-3): Here, combustion occurs at constant pressure while the
addition of heat causes a sharp increase in volume.
 ((T-S) constant pressure heat addition).
(d) Expansion (3-4): The gases at constant pressure and increased volume enter the
turbine and expand through it. As the gases pass through the turbine rotor, the
rotor turns kinetic energy into mechanical energy. The expanding size of the
passages causes further increase in volume and a sharp decrease in pressure and
temperature.
((T-S) isentropic expansion)
(e) Exhaust (4-1): The gases are released through the stack with a large drop in
volume and at constant pressure. The cycle is continuous and repetitive in a Gas
turbine. The functions occur simultaneously throughout the system.
((T-S) constant pressure heat rejection)
4. How does the actual cycle differ from the ideal cycle for a constant pressure open
cycle gas turbine. (3)

Parameter Ideal Cycle Actual Cycle

Efficiency Higher Lower
Net Work Output Higher Lower
Compression & Expansion Isentropic Non-isentropic
Pressure Drops None Present (combustion, ducts)
Heat Loss None Present
5. What are the uses of Gas Turbines
(a) Power Generation
Electricity Production: Used in power plants (especially in peaking and
combined-cycle plants).
(b) Aviation
Jet Engines: The core component in most aircraft engines (turbojets, turbofans,
turboprops).
(c) Marine Propulsion
Naval Ships: Preferred for their compact size and high-speed performance.
(d) Industrial Applications
Mechanical Drives: Powers large compressors, pumps, and other industrial
machinery, especially in the oil and gas industry.
(e) Military Applications
Tanks and Armored Vehicles: Some models (like the M1 Abrams) use gas
turbines for their high power output and acceleration.
(f) Oil and Gas Sector
Offshore Platforms: Provide power for drilling and production equipment.
6. Outline any three advantages and disadvantages of gas turbines over steam
turbine (3)
Advantages of Gas Turbines Over Steam Turbines:
(a) Faster Start-Up Time: Gas turbines can start and reach full load within minutes,
whereas steam turbines require significant time to heat water and build pressure.
(b) Higher Power-to-Weight Ratio: Gas turbines are lighter and more compact
compared to steam turbines
(c) Lower Water Requirement: Gas turbines do not require large amounts of water for
 steam generation,
7. Disadvantages of Gas Turbines Over Steam Turbines:
a) Lower Efficiency: Gas turbines are less efficient compared to steam turbines,
b) Higher Operating Temperatures: Gas turbines operate at very high temperatures,
c) More Expensive Fuel Costs: Gas turbines require high-quality fuels like natural gas or
aviation fuel, whereas steam turbines can run on cheaper fuels like coal, biomass, or
nuclear energy.
8. Identify the reason for using lean mixture in gas Turbine (3)
 A lean mixture in a gas turbine refers to a fuel-air mixture with excess air
Using a lean mixture in gas turbines enhances efficiency, reduces emissions, and
prolongs equipment life
9. List the methods for improving thermal efficiency and specific output of a simple
gas turbine plant / Interpret the method of improving the efficiency and specific output of a
simple gas turbine plant (3)
(a) Intercooling: The compression process is split into two or more stages, with an
intercooler placed between stages to cool the compressed air before further
compression.
(b) Reheating: After partial expansion in the turbine, the exhaust gases are reheated in a
combustion chamber before entering the second-stage turbine.
(c) Regeneration: A heat exchanger (regenerator) recovers waste heat from turbine
exhaust and preheats the compressed air before combustion.

PART - B

10. Derive the expression for maximum specific work output of a gas turbine considering
machine efficiencies.
11. Derive the optimum pressure ratio for maximum specific output for a gas turbine cycle
without considering machine efficiencies, with the help of T-s diagram.
 12. What are the improvements made to the basic gas turbine cycle. Explain with
temperature entropy diagram.

(a) Regeneration
Purpose: To recover waste heat from the turbine exhaust to preheat the compressed air before
combustion.
(b) Intercooling
Purpose: To cool the air between stages of compression, reducing the work required for
compression.

(c) Reheating
Purpose: To increase the turbine work output by reheating the gas between turbine stages.

(d) Combined Intercooling, Reheating, and Regeneration

Purpose: To maximize efficiency and output by combining all the above techniques.
 13. Differentiate between open, closed and semi closed gas turbine cycles.
 Open Cycle Gas Turbine (Brayton Cycle): The working fluid (air) is taken from the
atmosphere, used once, and then exhausted back into the atmosphere.

 Closed Cycle Gas Turbine: The working fluid (often a gas like helium, nitrogen, or air)
circulates in a closed loop without mixing with fuel or being released into the
atmosphere.

 Semi-Closed Cycle Gas Turbine: A hybrid system where part of the exhaust is
recirculated, and part is released to the atmosphere.

Feature Open Cycle Closed Cycle Semi-Closed Cycle

Fluid Recirculation No Yes Partially
Combustion Internal (with air) External (with heat) Internal
Efficiency Moderate High Moderate to High
Exhaust Released to atmosphere Contained Partially released
Complexity Low High Medium

14. Compare the gas turbine with IC engines. (6)

Feature Gas Turbine IC Engine (Reciprocating Engine)

Otto Cycle (petrol) or Diesel Cycle
Basic Principle Brayton Cycle
(diesel)
Working
Continuous combustion Intermittent combustion
Mechanism
Done by axial or centrifugal Piston compresses air-fuel mixture inside
Compression
compressor the cylinder
Power Output Reciprocating converted to rotary via
Rotary (shaft rotation)
Type crankshaft
Very high RPM (up to 100,000 rpm or Moderate RPM (up to ~6,000–8,000 rpm
Speed
more) in cars)
 Feature Gas Turbine IC Engine (Reciprocating Engine)
Thermal Higher at full load and high power Higher at partial loads, less efficient at
Efficiency settings high power
Size & Weight High power-to-weight ratio Heavier for the same power output
Fuel Types Jet fuel, natural gas, diesel, etc. Petrol, diesel, natural gas
Simpler maintenance, widely available
Maintenance Requires precision; costly and complex
services
Startup Time Longer startup time Fast startup
Fewer moving parts; high durability at
Durability More wear due to reciprocating parts
constant loads
Aircraft, power generation, marine Automobiles, motorcycles, generators,
Applications
propulsion small machinery
Cost High initial cost Lower initial cost
Generally louder and with high-pitched
Noise Lower-pitched but still noisy
whine

15. (a) What are the methods to improve the performance of the Gas turbine cycle?
(b) State the effect of improvement on thermal efficiency in each case. (8)
Ans (a)
 Regeneration
 Intercooling
 Reheating
 Combined Intercooling, Reheating, and Regeneration
 Regeneration
Effect:
• Reduces the fuel required to reach turbine inlet temperature.
• Increases thermal efficiency, especially in cycles with a low pressure ratio.
 Intercooling
Effect:
• Reduces compressor work.
• Increases net- work output.
• Improves cycle efficiency when combined with regeneration.
 Reheating
Effect:
• Increases total turbine work.
• Raises exhaust temperature (can help in regeneration).
• Slightly reduces efficiency unless used with regeneration.
 Combined Intercooling, Reheating, and Regeneration
Effect:
• High thermal efficiency.
• Increased net output.
• More complex and expensive system.

16. With neat sketch explain the following terms in a gas turbine.
(a) Regeneration
(b) Inter cooling
(c) Reheating (14)
 ANS
(a) Regeneration: A heat exchanger (regenerator) recovers waste heat from turbine
exhaust and preheats the compressed air before combustion.

 Exhaust heat carries large amounts of heat

 It can be utilized by a regenerator or heat exchanger
 Which preheat the gas before it enters the combustion chamber
 Which reduce the mass of the fuel supplied in the combustion chamber.
 Hence improve the thermal efficiency
(b) Inter cooling: The compression process is split into two or more stages, with an
intercooler placed between stages to cool the compressed air before further
compression.

 (1-2) Heating of air in the heating chamber at constant pressure

 (2-3) Isentropic expansion of air in the turb
 (3-4) Cooling of air in the cooling chamber at constant pressure.
 (4-5) Compression of air in the L.P compressor
 (5-6) Cooling of air in the inter cooler at constant pressure

(c) Reheating: After partial expansion in the turbine, the exhaust gases are reheated in a
combustion chamber before entering the second-stage turbine or The thermal
efficiency of a turbine can be improved by expanding the gases in two stages with a
re-heater between the two
 (1-2) Shows heating of air in first heating chamber at constant pr.
 (2-3) Shows isentropic expansion of air in first turbine
 (3-4) Heating of air in second heating chamber at constant pr.
 (4-5) Shows isentropic expansion of air in the second turbine
 (5-6) Cooling of air in the inter cooler at constant pr.
 (6-1) Compression of air in the compressor

17. Explain, with a neat, labelled diagram, any one of the combustion chambers used in gas
turbine cycle.
or
With a neat sketch explain the function of combustion chamber in a gas Turbine.
(8)
ANS

 A combustion chamber is where the fuel is burned at constant temperature with air
and gas turbine, where the air is expanded to generate electricity.

Zonal method of introducing air

 Primary zone (15-20% air)

 Air is introduced around the jet of fuel
 burns at approximately the Stoichiometric Ratio
 Therefore, High temperature
 And thus, Rapid Combustion
 Secondary Zone (30% air)
 Introduced through holes in the flame-tube in the secondary zone to complete
the combustion
 For high combustion efficiency, air must be injected carefully at the right
points in the process, to avoid chilling the flame locally and drastically
reducing the reaction rate in that neighbourhood
 Tertiary Zone (remaining air)
 Dilution Zone
 Cooling
 Sufficient turbulence must be promoted so that the hot and cold streams are
thoroughly mixed to give the desired outlet temperature distribution, with no
hot streaks which would damage the turbine blades.
18. Write a short note on different types of compression chambers used in a gas turbine
engine.
 Types of Combustion Chambers
1. Can Type (Tubular)
 Early aircraft engines made use of can (or tubular) type combustors
 The air leaving the compressor is split into a number of separate streams
 Each stream is directed by ducts to pass into individual chambers.
 These chambers are spaced around the shaft connecting the compressor and
turbine,
 Each chamber has its own fuel jet fed from a common supply line.
 This arrangement was well suited to engines with centrifugal compressors,
where flow was divided into separate streams in the diffuser.
2. Cannular Type (Tubo-annular)
 A number of individual flame tubes are fitted (uniformly spaced) around
a common annular casing.
 This bridges the gap between can and annular combustion chamber
(canannular).
 Like the can type combustor, canannular combustors have discrete
combustion zones contained in separate liners with their own fuel
injectors.
 However, unlike the can combustor, all the combustion zones share a
common ring (annulus) casing.
 Each combustion zone no longer has to serve as a pressure vessel.
3. Annular Type
 Consist of a single flame tube completely annular in form which is
contained in an inner and outer casing.
 Widely used combustion chamber. Main advantage is that for the same
power output, the length is short (only 75% of can-annular).
 Very good heat release rate with compact size. Minimum pressure loss.
Elimination of combustion propagation problems from chamber to
chamber.
 Results in considerable saving of weight and production cost.
19. Describe the stability loop in the combustion chamber with a suitable diagram.
 The stability loop is a function of the pressure in the chamber. A decrease in pressure narrows
the stability limits.
 Combustion stability means smooth burning and ability of flame to remain alight over a wide
range of operation.