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Upgrading the compressor stage of a solar-hybrid twin-shaft micro gas turbine.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.

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Main Author: Fivaz, Michael Arthur
Other Authors: Van der Spuy, SJ
Format: Thesis
Language:en_ZA
en_ZA
Published: Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University 2024
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access_status_str Open Access
author Fivaz, Michael Arthur
author2 Van der Spuy, SJ
author_browse Fivaz, Michael Arthur
Van der Spuy, SJ
author_facet Van der Spuy, SJ
Fivaz, Michael Arthur
author_sort Fivaz, Michael Arthur
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv Stellenbosch University
description Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/130348
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language en_ZA
en_ZA
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:44:03.396Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2024
publishDateRange 2024
publishDateSort 2024
publisher Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
publisherStr Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/130348 Upgrading the compressor stage of a solar-hybrid twin-shaft micro gas turbine. Fivaz, Michael Arthur Van der Spuy, SJ Van Eck, H. Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Solar energy -- Hybrid systems Concentrating solar power Gas-turbines Computational fluid dynamics Micro gas turbine UCTD Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Using a solar-hybrid gas turbine system for generating electricity combines the continuous high output power of a micro gas turbine (MGT) with the environmental benefits of a concentrating solar power (CSP) plant. An MGT's performance can be improved in a variety of options for solar-hybrid applications, with the compressor stage receiving particular focus. A centrifugal compressor, which is favoured over axial compressors due to higher per stage pressure ratios obtained, is used in the compression stage. An existing design methodology exists to assist in developing and testing a new centrifugal compressor for an MGT engine. The operational solar-hybrid MGT testbench operates with a very low engine efficiency and generates a low amount of output power. Therefore, the aim of this study is to upgrade the compressor stage of the solar-hybrid MGT through a proposed centrifugal compressor redesign to improve overall engine performance. After measuring the geometry to get an exact replica of the existing compressor impeller to establish its baseline performance, a new design is developed using a one-dimensional (1D) mean-line code. The redesigned compressor is subjected to a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation to produce performance charts that are imported into a thermodynamic software model of the engine for performance improvement evaluations. The new compressor design increases the MGT’s compressor stage’s compression ratio by 4.59% from the existing replica compressor of 1.48 to 1.55. Similar to the compression ratio, the efficiency of the compressor stage is improved from 78.3% of the existing replica compressor to 84.2% by the new compressor design. As a result, the MGT's output power increases by 22.7% from 18.1 kW to 22.2 kW, further improving overall engine efficiency. The improvement in performance enables the engine to be developed further, such as converting the output shaft power into electricity. The development of this MGT will ultimately assist in progressing the field of solar-hybrid gas turbine energy generation. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van 'n sonkrag-hibriede gasturbine-stelsel vir die opwekking van elektrisiteit kombineer die voortdurende hoë uitsetvermoë van 'n mikrogasturbine (MGT) met die omgewingsvoordele van 'n gekonsentreerde sonkragaanleg (CSP). Die werkverrigting van 'n MGT kan verbeter word m.b.v. 'n verskeidenheid opsies vir sonkrag-hibriede toepassings, met ‘n spesifieke fokus op die kompressorstadium. 'n Sentrifugaalkompressor word verkies vir gebruik in die kompressorstadium, eerder as ‘n aksiaalkompressor, as gevolg van ‘n hoër drukverhouding per stadium. Daar bestaan reeds 'n ontwerpsmetodologie om te help met die ontwikkeling en toets van 'n nuwe sentrifugaalkompressor vir 'n MGT-enjin. Die operasionele sonkrag-hibriede MGT-toetsbank werk met 'n baie lae enjindoeltreffendheid en het 'n lae uitsetvermoë. Daarom is die doel van hierdie studie om die kompressorstadium van die sonkrag-hibriede MGT op te gradeer deur 'n voorgestelde herontwerp van die sentrifugaalkompressor om die algehele enjinwerkverrigting te verbeter. Nadat die geometrie gemeet is om 'n presiese replika van die bestaande kompressor-rotor te kry om sy basislynwerkverrigting te bepaal, word 'n nuwe ontwerp ontwikkel met behulp van ‘n eendimensionele gemiddelde-lyn kode. Die herontwerpte kompressor is geanaliseer met behulp van Berekenings Vloeimeganika (BVM) sagteware om kompressorkaarte te genereer wat in 'n termodinamiese sagtewaremodel van die enjin ingevoer word om die prestasieverbetering te evalueer. Die nuwe kompressorontwerp verhoog die kompressieverhouding van die MGT van 1.48 tot 1.55. Soortgelyk aan die kompressieverhouding, word die doeltreffendheid van die kompressorstadium verbeter van 78.3% tot 84.2%. As gevolg hiervan neem die uitsetvermoë van die MGT met 22.7% toe van 18.1 kW tot 22.2 kW, wat dus ook die algehele enjindoeltreffendheid verbeter. Die verbetering in die werkverrigting skep die geleentheid vir verdere ontwikkeling van die enjin en bevorder navorsing in die veld van energieopwekking m.b.v. sonkrag-hibriede gasturbinestelsels. Masters 2024-02-26T12:04:39Z 2024-04-26T14:20:21Z 2024-02-26T12:04:39Z 2024-04-26T14:20:21Z 2024-02 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130348 en_ZA en_ZA Stellenbosch University application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
spellingShingle Solar energy -- Hybrid systems
Concentrating solar power
Gas-turbines
Computational fluid dynamics
Micro gas turbine
UCTD
Fivaz, Michael Arthur
Upgrading the compressor stage of a solar-hybrid twin-shaft micro gas turbine.
title Upgrading the compressor stage of a solar-hybrid twin-shaft micro gas turbine.
title_full Upgrading the compressor stage of a solar-hybrid twin-shaft micro gas turbine.
title_fullStr Upgrading the compressor stage of a solar-hybrid twin-shaft micro gas turbine.
title_full_unstemmed Upgrading the compressor stage of a solar-hybrid twin-shaft micro gas turbine.
title_short Upgrading the compressor stage of a solar-hybrid twin-shaft micro gas turbine.
title_sort upgrading the compressor stage of a solar hybrid twin shaft micro gas turbine
topic Solar energy -- Hybrid systems
Concentrating solar power
Gas-turbines
Computational fluid dynamics
Micro gas turbine
UCTD
url https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130348
work_keys_str_mv AT fivazmichaelarthur upgradingthecompressorstageofasolarhybridtwinshaftmicrogasturbine