Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Feasibility of pulse combustion in micro gas turbines

  • Published:
Journal of Thermal Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In gas turbines, a fast decrease of efficiency appears when the output decreases; the efficiency of a large gas turbine (20...30 MW) is in the order of 40 %, the efficiency of a 30 kW gas turbine with a recuperator is in the order of 25 %, but the efficiency of a very small gas turbine (2...6 kW) in the order of 4...6 % (or 8...12 % with an optimal recuperator). This is mainly a result of the efficiency decrease in kinetic compressors, due to the Reynolds number effect. Losses in decelerating flow in a flow passage are sensitive to the Reynolds number effects. In contrary to the compression, the efficiency of expansion in turbines is not so sensitive to the Reynolds number; very small turbines are made with rather good efficiency because the flow acceleration stabilizes the boundary layer. This study presents a system where the kinetic compressor of a gas turbine is replaced with a pulse combustor. The combustor is filled with a combustible gas mixture, ignited, and the generated high pressure gas is expanded in the turbine. The process is repeated frequently, thus producing a pulsating flow to the turbine; or almost a uniform flow, if several parallel combustors are used and triggered alternately in a proper way. Almost all the compression work is made by the temperature increase from the combustion. This gas turbine type is investigated theoretically and its combustor also experimentally with the conclusion that in a 2 kW power size, the pulse flow gas turbine is not as attractive as expected due to the big size and weight of parallel combustors and due to the efficiency being in the order of 8 % to 10 %. However, in special applications having a very low power demand, below 1000 W, this solution has better properties when compared to the conventional gas turbine and it could be worth of a more detailed investigation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A:

area (m2)

c p :

specific heat at constant pressure (J/kgK)

c v :

specific heat at constant volume (J/kgK)

h :

specific enthalpy (J/kg)

P :

power (kW)

p :

absolute pressure (Pa)

q m :

mass flow (kg/s)

R :

gas constant (J/kgK)

T :

temperature (K)

t:

time (s)

V :

volume (m3)

W :

work (J)

w :

velocity (m/s)

G4 :

combustor net heat rate (W)

γ :

ratio of specific heats, c p/c v

π :

pressure ratio

ρ :

density (kg/m3)

τ :

temperature ratio

cycle:

operating cycle

in:

combustor inlet (inflow)

m:

mean

out:

combustor outlet (outflow)

s:

isentropic

th:

nozzle throat

0:

ambient

References

  1. Schmalzer B. Gas turbines: Moving to prime time. Turbomachinery International Vol. 51, No. 6, 2010, Handbook 2011.

  2. Soares C. Microturbines. Applications for distributed energy systems. Elsevier Inc., Amsterdam, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Rabou L.P.L.M, Grift J.M., Conradie R.E., Fransen S., Verhoeff F. Micro Gas Turbine Operation with Biomass Producer Gas. Contribution to the 15th European Biomass Conference, Berlin, May 2007. ECN-M—07-073.

  4. van Heerbeek P.A., van Gijzen M.B., Vuik C., de la Fonteijne M.R. Numerical Modelling of a Pulse Combustion Burner: Limiting Conditions of Stable Operation. A.D. Fitt et al. (eds.), Progress in Industrial Mathematics at ECMI 2008, Mathematics in Industry 15, DOI 10.1007/978-3-642-12110-4_140, Springer-Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Lampinen M. J., Turunen R., Köykkä M. Thermodynamic analysis of a pulse combustion system and its application to gas turbines. International Journal of Energy Research, Vol 16., 259–276, 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. van Heerbeek P. A. Mathematical Modeling of a Pulse Combustor of the Helmholtz-type. Interim Report. Delft University of Technology. February 2008.

  7. Fry R. S. A Century of Ramjet Propulsion Technology Evolution. Johns Hopkins University, Columbia, Maryland 21044. Journal of Propulsion and Power. Vol. 20, No. 1, January–February 2004.

  8. Akbari P., Nalim R., Müller N.. A Review of Wave Rotor Technology and Its Applications. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, October 2006, Vol. 128.

  9. Iancu F., Piechna J., Dempsey E., Müller N. The Ultra-micro Wave Rotor Research at Michigan State University. The 2nd International Symposium on Innovative Aerial/Space Flyer Systems, Dec. 2–3, 2005, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo.

  10. Plavnik G. Pulse Combustion Technology. 14th North American Waste to Energy Conference, May 1–3, 2006, Tampa, Florida, USA, NAWTEC 14-3195.

  11. Larjola J. Transient simulation of gas turbines including the effects of heat capacity of the solid parts. Diss. Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Press W. H., Teukolsky S. A., Vetterling W. T., Flannery B. P. Numerical Recipes in Fortran. The Art of Scientific Computing. Second Edition. The Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. Cambridge, 1992.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  13. Anderson J. D. Jr. Modern Compressible Flow With Historical Perspective. Second Edition. McGraw-Hill Publishing Company., New York, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Saravanamuttoo H. I. H., Rogers G. F. C., Cohen H. Gas turbine theory. 5th edition. Pearson Education Limited. 2001, Oxford, ISBN 9780130158475..

  15. Traupel W.. Thermische Turbomaschinen. Erster Band. Thermodynamisch-strömungstechnische Berechnung. Zweite neubearbeitete und erweiterte Auflage. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, 1966 (in German).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kohl R. C., Herzig H. Z., Whitney W. J.. Effects of partial admission on performance of a gas turbine. National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Technical Note No. 1807. Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory, Cleveland, Ohio. Washington, February 1949.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lappeenranta University of Technology, P.O. Box 20, 53851, Lappeenranta, Finland

    Juha Honkatukia, Esa Saari, Jaakko Larjola & Jari Backman

  2. T-Turbine Oy, Rakentajainkuja 4 B, 02330, Espoo, Finland

    Timo Knuuttila

Authors
  1. Juha Honkatukia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Esa Saari
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Timo Knuuttila
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jaakko Larjola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jari Backman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Honkatukia, J., Saari, E., Knuuttila, T. et al. Feasibility of pulse combustion in micro gas turbines. J. Therm. Sci. 21, 466–473 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-012-0570-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-012-0570-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation