Advanced Design of Turbomachinery
It is an exciting time to be working in gas turbine technology! As industry strives for lower costs, better performance, and reduced emissions, new and challenging problems continue to emerge. With its high efficiency, rapid startup time, and large power density, the gas turbine will continue to play a large role in propulsion and power; however, both the engine and its designers will need to be adaptable in an increasingly dynamic industry.
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Current Research Projects
Robust Operation and Performance Limiting Mechanisms in Kilowatt-Scale High-Speed Gas Turbine Engines
J. Chiapperi
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We are researching small gas turbine engines for remote power generation applications. Fuel-based energy systems can provide a much higher energy density than battery-electric systems, making them ideal candidates for portable power systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous robots. Traditionally, applications in the kilowatt scale would be filled by reciprocating piston engines. Here, we study the potential use of gas turbine engines in the kilowatt scale. Gas turbines have the potential for higher power density, superior mechanical reliability, and greater fuel flexibility when compared to piston engines. The primary challenges are ensuring stable operation and acceptable efficiency.
Forced Response System Identification in Rocket Engine Turbopumps
M.C. Campbell
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The current characterization of inducer cavitation dynamics, especially the so-called pump transfer matrices, is still limited as the only experimental transfer matrix data available dates back to the 1970s. There is a critical need for more in-depth experimental characterization of the cavitation dynamics and related damping in turbopump inducers so as to allow a more accurate and reliable assessment of instability. The goal of the project is to conduct forced response system identification experiments aimed at characterizing the cavitation dynamics.
Conceive, Design, Build, and Demonstrate a Rocket Engine Turbopump and Test Bed
K. Ruecker
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The objective of this project is to achieve a reliable pump architecture that minimizes the thermal exposure of components downstream from the pre-burner and that leverages high-temperature materials and coatings, specifically tailored to withstand the extreme operating conditions. Elements of the proposed sub-scale demonstrator will be developed at MIT leveraging the design freedom enabled by metal additive manufacturing, novel high temperature materials such as oxide dispersion-strengthened superalloys, and thermal shock-resistant environmental barrier coatings.