Researching The Gas Turbine Energy Industrial Focus

RESEARCHING THE GAS TURBINE

Over a period of 60 years, Cranfield University has developed an extensive research and teaching provision for both gas turbine manufacturers and users. Arguably the largest university-based activity of its kind, Cranfield enjoys very close professional business relationships with gas turbine technology companies world-wide

The Emissions Strategy
One of the many research initiatives undertaken at Cranfield has been the creation of an emissions strategy. The fact is that world energy demand is set to grow at broadly 1.4 percent per annum, leading to an estimated 13,000 Gigatonnes (coal equivalent) by the year 2020. Much of this growth is expected to take place in the developing world.
The corresponding responsibilities of oil and gas producers and of power generating companies concerning environmental protection cannot, therefore, be underrated. This is especially so, since the perception of the general public is that these sectors are not just profitable, but have a major involvement in the production and utilisation of fossil fuels. It is also a fact that the gas turbine engine has been the major prime mover for some time for both mechanical drive and electrical power generation within the oil and gas industry.
More recently, there has been widespread acceptance of the economic value of combined gas and steam (combined cycle) as a means of electrical power generation. It is increasingly probable that the vast majority of new utility power generating plants will be designed around the gas turbine. Importantly, it is this prime mover which offers the greatest potential for low pollutant emission levels in the future.
Whilst unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide are a problem at low engine power settings, emissions of oxides of nitrogen increase with engine power and peak temperature. The latter are at the highest level when the machine is operating at full power.
Since it is at this condition that the stationary turbine spends much of its operating time, there is an increasingly serious issue of environmental pollution world wide. Much of the drive towards more stringent emissions legislation has been directed towards reducing future emissions of oxides and nitrogen.
In the short-term it is likely that engine combustion temperatures will continue to rise, further increasing the need to limit emissions of oxides of nitrogen. The pressure to increase gas turbine operating temperatures will occur as a direct result of improving fuel burn efficiency and from the need to limit emissions of carbon dioxide.
Whilst natural gas is likely to remain the favoured fuel for base load power generation, ‘heavy’ liquid and coal-derived fuels are also likely to gain importance. This is partly because of the inevitable depletion of natural gas and conventional hydrocarbon fuels and partly because of the growth in the economies of China and India, both of which have large coal reserves.

A Course of Action
In Parallel to the specific pollution based research programme described above, the Department of Power and Propulsion in the School of Engineering has extensive associated research programmes on gas turbine combustion, fuels technology, component design, overall engine performance and in engine health monitoring and diagnostics.
In addition to its cutting edge research activities, substantial full time and part time Masters and doctoral programmes are run alongside a comprehensive portfolio for continuing professional development short courses in gas turbine technology. This includes a new MSc option in power, propulsion and the environment.
Cranfield also provides specialised engineering training programmes of 6 to 9 months duration designed for operators, supervisors, senior technicians and managers in gas turbine and related industries.

Contact info:
Cranfield based short courses are described in detail on the following website:

www.cranfield.ac.uk/soe/shortcourses/pp

Full detailed information on the full range of gas turbine and related activities of Cranfield’s Department of Power and Propulsion Engineering are available at: