Gas turbine power plant

Patent · Tue Dec 27 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:6149659

Kronogard, S O

The efficiency and the power output of a gas turbine power plant, to a large extent, depend upon turbine inlet temperature (TIT). The strength of conventional metallic materials puts an upper limit to the TIT. Ceramic materials will withstand much higher temperatures, but their practically usable strength is considerably less than that of metallic materials. The strains imposed upon a rotor to a large degree is a function of the centrifugal stress and thus the peripheral speed. In order to secure simplicity of design the turbine driving the compressor rotor shall be mounted upon the same shaft as the latter, which means that the turbine will rotate at the same speed as the compressor. The specific power obtainable at, or consumable by, a rotor is approximately a function of the square of its peripheral speed, and in a conventional arrangement the turbine rotor usually has a somewhat smaller diameter then the compressor it drives, assuming that the compressor is the only power consumer. A ceramic material will not withstand such high peripheral speeds as are used in metallic turbines, and according to the invention the first, ceramic turbine rotor driving the compressor is undersized and has a reduced diameter. This means that the power output of this turbine will not be sufficient to drive the compressor, so the turbine has to be supported, either by power transfer from a further turbine rotor operating on a separate shaft, or by a further ceramic rotor being mounted upon the compressor/first turbine rotor shaft.

• Assignee: United Turbine AB and Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4064690
• OSTI ID: 6149659
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS
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DESIGN
FOSSIL-FUEL POWER PLANTS
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POWER PLANTS
ROTORS
STRESSES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
TURBINE BLADES
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