Development of a Novel Small Gas Turbine with Variable Air Mass Flow and Constant Pressure Ratio and Constant Temperature

Abstract

The authors are developing a small gas turbine with variable air mass flow but with constant pressure ratio and constant cycle temperature. There is no gas turbine in a power range up to 200 KW worldwide, which can be used in light and ultra-light airplanes, light helicopters or other applications such as pleasure crafts or light hovercrafts. Some gas turbines are used as auxiliary power units or for power generation. But these types of gas turbines are not usefully for aviation. The authors are developing a new power setting method to create a gas turbine with more constant efficiency over power load. In light and ultra-light airplanes and light helicopters exclusively piston engines are applied, especially Otto engines. The use of gas turbines instead of piston engines in these applications would create several advantages such as higher performance, lower costs of operation and lower maintenance costs.