Browsing by Author "Ferreira, Lourens Jan"
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- ItemThe effect of combustor Inlet Swirl on the performance of a micro gas turbine(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-12) Ferreira, Lourens Jan; Van der Spuy, S. J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The effects of combustor inlet swirl on the performance of the BMT120KS micro gas turbine engine is evaluated both experimentally and numerically in this thesis. The temperature variation at the exhaust of the engine and the air mass flow rate is included in this evaluation. The turbine engine was numerically modelled using NUMECA FINE/Turbo and the cold flow inlet conditions at the combustor inlet was determined. The experimental results achieved a maximum standard deviation of 2% for the various measured parameters. The study shows that the existing temperature measurement system overpredicts the temperature value by about 50 °C in comparison to a more accurately measured outlet temperature value. The existing control temperature matches the maximum temperature experienced by the turbine within 25 °C. The air mass flow rate measurement system is investigated and compared with previous studies and numerical data. The bell mouth pressure transducer is replaced and revised pressure readings are used to establish a revised mass flow rate that approximates referenced numerical data within 12% compared to an initial 40%. Finally it found that the inlet swirl has a definite effect on the performance of a MGT. The 30° de-swirler configuration shows a 24% thrust increase at the same SFC levels as the 0° configuration for 90 000 rpm while the 45° de-swirler configuration shows a 12% thrust decrease with an 11% increase in SFC levels compared to the 0° configuration at 90 000 rpm. Further testing should be done to find the optimal swirl conditions for the various operational speeds of the BMT120KS.