Gas Turbine : Classification, Open and

Closed Cycle, Gas Turbine Fuels

N A ME : TA I LOR A S I M KU MAR
E N ROL L . N O. : 1 6 0 0101 19115
ME-02
Classification
1. Combustion
 Constant pressure gas turbine
 Constant volume gas turbine
2. Action of expanding gases
Impulse Turbine
Impulse-Reaction Turbine
3. Path of working substance
Open cycle gas turbine
Close cycle gas turbine
Semi closed cycle gas turbine
4. Direction of Flow
 Axial Flow Gas turbine
 Radial Flow Gas Turbine
5. Arrangement of Shaft
 Single shaft gas turbine
 Multi shaft gas turbine
6. Thermodynamic cycle Simple Cycle
 Cycle with regeneration
 Cycle with intercooling
 Cycle with reheating
 Cycle with intercooling, regeneration and reheating
Open Cycle Gas Turbine
The Open cycle gas turbine or Brayton cycle
is the most idealized cycle for the simple gas
turbine power plant as shown in figure.
Atmospheric air is compressed from pi to a
high pressure p2 in the compressor and
delivered to the combustion chamber where
fuel is injected and burned. The combustion
process occurs nearly at constant pressure.
Due to combustion heat is added to the
working fluid in the combustor from T2 to
T3. The products of combustion from the
combustion chamber expanded in the
turbine from p2 to atmospheric pressure pi
and then discharged to the atmosphere
Open cycle Gas Turbine
Close Cycle Gas Turbine
A schematic diagram of a closed cycle gas turbine plant is shown in figure. The working fluid
coming out from the compressor is heated in a heat exchanger by an external source at constant
pressure. The working fuel is heated by burning the fuel using separate supply of air in CC and
transfer this heat to the working fluid. The hot air, while flowing over the blades gets expanded.
This air is cooled where it is cooled at constant pressure with the help of circulating water to its
original temperature.
Following are the desirable properties of working fluid used in closed cycle.
It should be perfectly inert.
It should be stable, non-explosive and non-corrosive.
It should be non-toxic and non-flammable.
It should have high thermal conductivity.
Close Cycle Gas Turbine
Following are various advantages of closed cycle gas turbine
over open cycle gas turbine plant:
Working fluid is cooled and it decrease its specific volume. So size of compressor can be
reduced.
Gases other than air which have more favorable properties.
External heating of air permits use of low quality fuel.
Higher thermal efficiency obtained for same maximum and minimum temperature limits
compared to open cycle.
The Power output can be varied by changing the mass flow.
No loss of working fluid.
High heat transfer rate is possible compared to open cycle.
Following are various disadvantages of closed cycle gas turbine
over open cycle gas turbine plant:
Depends on cooling water. This eliminates use of this system in aircraft.
Use of high pressure requires a strong heat exchanger.
The load control of closed system is complex and costly compared to open cycle.
Considerable quantity of cooling water is required in pre-cooler.
Gas turbine fuels
Liquid and gaseous fuel
Gaseous fuels such as natural gases are mainly used in gas turbines that power pumping stations
along main gas pipelines. Liquid fuels are used in gas turbine powered transport vehicles and in
large stationary gas turbines.
Gas turbine accept most commercial fuel such as petrol, natural gas, propane, and diesel as well
as renewable such as biogas, biodiesel. However, when running on kerosene or diesel, starting
sometimes requires the assistance of a more volatile product such as propane gas - although the
new kero-start technology can allow even micro-turbines fueled on kerosene to start without
propane.
Solid Fuel
Also solid fuels like pulverized coal is normally used in closed cycle gas turbine plants. But
problem facing in such fuel is that it increase the level of fly-ash in the gases leaving combustion
chamber and entering in turbine. So additionally fly-ash collectors are used.