Electrical Power Generation
How A Gas Turbine Engine Works
In electricity generating applications the turbine is used to drive a synchronous generator which provides the electrical power output but because the turbine normally operates at very high rotational speeds of 12,000 r.p.m or more it must be connected to the generator through a high ratio reduction gear since the generators run at speeds of 1,000 or 1,200 r.p.m. depending on the AC frequency of the electricity grid.
Turbine Configurations
Gas turbine power generators are used in two basic configurations
- Simple Systems consisting of the gas turbine driving an electrical
power generator.
- Combined Cycle Systems which are designed for maximum efficiency in which the hot exhaust gases from the gas turbine are used to raise steam to power a steam turbine with both turbines being connected to electricity generators.
Sequential combustion can be visualised as a Gas turbine comprising two combustor-turbines in series, where the exhaust gases from the first turbine feed the combustor of the second.
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