Motohide Murayama

Experimental verification of the feasibility of a 100 W class micro-scale gas turbine at an impeller diameter of 10 mm

The feasibility of a 100 W class micro-scale gas turbine with a centrifugal impeller of 10 mm diameter has been studied by experimentally verifying the four major component performance requirements found from cycle analysis. The rotor is required to rotate at 870 000 rpm to generate the compressor pressure ratio 3, and it has successfully been achieved by using hydroinertia gas bearings. A compressor efficiency higher than that required by the target cycle has been measured. After correcting the effect of the heat leakage, approximately 65% of the compressor adiabatic efficiency is estimated to be achievable. The combustor has achieved stable self-sustained combustion at a combustion efficiency higher than 99.9%. The heat conduction analysis based on measured data showed that it is possible to keep the compressor below 170 °C when the turbine inlet temperature is 1050 °C. All four requirements are proven to be achievable, and hence, the feasibility of the micro-scale gas turbine at an impeller of 10 mm diameter has successfully been proven at component level.

Feasibility Study of a Gas Turbine at Micro Scale

Feasibility of a small centrifugal gas turbine with its impeller diameter around a centimeter has been studied. From cycle analysis, minimum requirements for each component were set. Then, feasibility to achieve these minimum requirements were studied, component by component. The results show that the micro-scale gas turbine is feasible at impeller diameter 1cm. The largest issue will be the isolation of the heat between the compressor and the combustor to prevent the large reduction of the compressor efficiency.Copyright

Development of Microturbocharger and Microcombustor for a Three-Dimensional Gas Turbine at Microscale

A microscale gas turbine is under development at Tohoku University in Japan. Current objective of the project is to reveal the performance of the gas turbine at microscale with optimum aerodynamic shape. Therefore the engine to be tested will be fabricated by machining using a micro-5-axis end mill to realize three-dimensional modeling. The first step of the development has been split into the development of microturbocharger and microcombustor, to prevent the problem of the heat flow effect pointed out in the previous study [1]. The heat flow from the combustor to compressor will become relatively large at microscale, and this will degrade the performance of the compressor. The goal of the first step of the development is to achieve the required performance of the components to realize the gas turbine cycle, without the heat effect. Those are, 62% compressor efficiency, 870,000 rpm shaft rotating speed, and the self sustained combustion. A microscale turbocharger has been designed. The compressor impeller of diameter 10mm is expected to produce a pressure ratio of 3, and 68% compressor adiabatic efficiency. The bearings to realize the design rotational speed are hydrodynamic type gas bearing. Fabrication of the herring-bone grooves have been attempted, and successfully formed on a cylindrical surface by new etching procedure. A technique to fabricate three-dimensional turbine impellers at microscale by powder sintering of ceramics has been demonstrated. A semi-microcombustor has been fabricated and shown successful performance by burning hydrogen fuel.Copyright