Thermal engines (either internal or external combustion) having thermal turbomachines as their basic components, thermal power plants, gas turbines, steam plants (steam boiler-steam turbine), combined cycle plant. Understanding of operational principles, classification of gas turbines, technology of such engines and of their basic components, methodology for calculating their performance. 

Description of the Course

Theory: Industrial gas turbines, operational principles, ideal gas turbine cycles, real cycles, definition of performance coefficients, thermal efficiency, modifications to the basic cycle for performance improvement, calculations on thermal plants for their performance, construction elements, description, types and operation of basic components (compressors, turbines, burners), turbine blade cooling techniques, elements of combustion. Complex cycles with regeneration, compression in more than one stages with intercooling, expansion in more than one stages with intermediate reheating. Closed-cycle gas turbines. Topics on the operation and design of gas turbines, compressor-turbine matching, design point operation of a gas turbine, off-design operation, load control. Reference to gas turbines for propulsion (turbojet, turbofan, turboprop, etc). Steam turbine plants, ideal steam cycles, modified cycles for performance improvement (steam turbine technology, open and closed cycle, condensers, cooling towers, vacuum pumps etc), energy calculations. Combined cycle of gas and steam turbines, possible configurations. Reference to cogeneration (heat and electrical power) and trigeneration (heat, cool and power).

Laboratory: Detailed description of a steam plant, containing a steam boiler, a steam turbine, a generator, a condenser, a cooling tower and a vacuum pump. Realization of Rankine cycle. Presentation of the operation and basic types of each component, as well as the relevant calculations of its performance. Description of operation and management of the plant, measurements during operation and estimation of the plant thermal efficiency. 

Expected Course Outcome

By the end of the course the students should: 

• know the operational principles of gas and steam turbine plants, as well the basic principles of combined cycle plants.
• be able to calculate the performance of a thermal plant.
• recognize the parameters that affect the performance of thermal plants, be aware of the maximum theoretical efficiency of a thermal engine and its possible modifications of an engine towards reaching maximum efficiency. 

Bibliography

Greek:

1. Κ. Ρακόπουλος, «Θεωρία βιομηχανικών αεριοστροβίλων», Εκδόσεις Φούντας 1995
2. Ε. Κακαράς, «Θερμικοί σταθμοί», Εκδόσεις Φούντας 1999.
3. Α. Πολυζάκης, «Αεριοστρόβιλοι: Εισαγωγή στη λειτουργία». Εκδόσεις: Power Heat Cool , Κοζάνη 2008.
4. Κ.Μ. Μαθιουδάκης, «Λειτουργία Αεριοστροβίλων και Ατμοστροβίλων», Εργαστήριο Θερμικών Στροβιλομηχανών ΕΜΠ, Αθήνα 1997.
5. Γ.Φ. Δανιήλ, «Κινητήριες Μηχανές Ι», Ίδρυμα Ευγενίδου, 1987

English:

1. E.E. Khalil, “Power Plant Design”, Abacus Press, 1990.
2. W.W. Bathie, 2nd Edition, John Wiley and Sons, 1996.
3. H. Cohen, G.F.C. Rogers, H.I.H. Saravanamuttoo, “Gas Turbine Theory”, Longman, 1972.
4. H.P. Bloch, “A practical guide to steam turbine technology”, McGraw-Hill 1995.
5.  J.H. Horlock, “Advanced Gas Turbine Cycles”, 2007.
6. R.Kehlhofer, ”Combined Cycle Gas & Steam Turbine Power Plants”, Pennwell Pub 1999.