Walsh Philip P., Fletcher Paul. Gas turbine performance

2nd edition. — Blackwell Science Ltd, Malden, MA. 2004 — 657 p.Performance is the end product that a gas turbine company sells. Furthermore, it is the thread which sews all other gas turbine technologies together. Gas turbine performance may be summarised as:
The thrust or shaft power delivered for a given fuel flow, life, weight, emissions, engine diameter and cost. This must be achieved while ensuring stable and safe operation throughout the operational envelope, under all steady state and transient conditions.
To function satisfactorily within a gas turbine company, engineers from all disciplines, as well as marketing staff, must understand the fundamentals of performance.
The authors were motivated to write this book by experiences gained while working for three prominent gas turbine companies in the UK and the USA. These clearly showed the pressing need for a book presenting the fundamentals of performance in an applied manner, pertinent to the everyday work of those in industry as well as university based readers. The strategy adhered to in writing this book, together with some of its unique features, are described below:
. The main text contains no algebra and is laid out in a manner designed for easy reference. The latter is achieved by careful section numbering, the use of bullet points, extensive figures, charts and tables, and by deferring the more difficult concepts to the end of sections or chapters.
. Comprehensive lists of formulae, together with sample calculations are located at the end of each chapter. Formulae are presented in FORTRAN/BASIC/Spreadsheet format for ease of implementation in PC programs.
. The lead unit system employed is SI. However key unit conversions are provided on every figure, chart and table catering for the needs of all readers world-wide. Furthermore, a comprehensive list of unit conversions is supplied as an appendix.
. The internationally recognised aerospace recommended practice for nomenclature and engine station numbering laid down in ARP 755A is listed as an appendix, and employed throughout.
. Figures, charts, tables and formulae provide not only trends and the form of relationships, but also a database for design purposes. Charts are located at the end of each chapter, whereas figures are embedded in the text. Also practical guidelines for engine design are provided throughout the text.
. All aspects of gas turbine performance are covered, with chapters on topics not easily found in other textbooks such as transient performance, starting, windmilling, and analysis of engine test data.
. All gas turbine engine variants are discussed, including turbojets, turbofans, turboprops, turboshafts, auxiliary power units and ramjets.
. An introduction to gas turbine applications is provided in Chapter 1. Subsequent chapters address meeting the various requirements particular to all major applications such as power generation, mechanical drive, automotive, marine and aircraft installations.
. The importance of dimensionless and other parameter groups in understanding the fundamentals of gas turbine performance is emphasised throughout.
. Component performance and design is presented from an engine performance viewpoint. A comprehensive list of references is provided for those wishing to pursue detailed component aero-thermal and mechanical design issues.
This book is primarily aimed at engineers of all disciplines within the gas turbine industry, and will also be of significant value to students of mechanical and aeronautical engineering. It should also appeal to people outside the industry who have an interest in gas turbines. Experienced engineers will particularly welcome the database and list of formulae which it is hoped will make the book an invaluable reference tool.
The guidelines, charts and formulae provided should be invaluable for instructive or ‘scoping’ purposes, particularly where simplified forms are shown to ease implementation.
Progression of projects beyond this must always be accompanied by an appropriate quality plan, however, including stringent control of the accuracy of any software produced. As such, no liability can be accepted for the consequences of any inaccuracies herein.
For the second edition all existing chapters have been reviewed, and a range of minor improvements and alterations introduced. Also, two new chapters have been added covering performance issues relating to engines ‘in-service’, and also the economics of gas turbines.
In recent years the inexorable drive to lower operating costs has increased the need to understand both in-service performance, via issues such as health monitoring, and also the ‘techno-economic’ issues that determine whether or not a gas turbine project will be profitable.