DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF A FREE POWER TURBINE FOR AN AUXILIARY POWER UNIT

Abstract

The next generation design of small gas turbines outshines the present capabilities in improved aerodynamics, superior technologies and high reliability to ensure air superiority and survivability. Auxiliary Power Units (APU.s) are such small gas turbines that provide many benefits to the modern military aircrafts. The performance of the each individual component of an APU is therefore significant. Literature reports various efforts and state-of-art review made by many researchers in experimental and computational fields for the improvement of performance in each component involving compressor, combustor and especially that of a turbine. The design of a turbine stage that produces high performance is therefore essential to meet the requirements of APU. The report presents design and analysis of a free power turbine stage for an auxiliary power unit. Preliminary free vortex based design, CFD analysis and mechanical analysis were carried out in an iterative manner and optimisation proces...