Performance analysis of twin-spool water injected gas turbines using adaptive modeling.

ABSTRACT The development of an adaptive performance model for multi-spool gas turbines, equipped with the possibility of water injection is described. The model covers water injection at engine inlet, between the compressors and at the compressor exit. The selection of modification factors and the procedure for adapting component characteristics to overall performance data is discussed. A case of adaptation to overall performances is presented. The use of the model for studying overall engine and components performance is demonstrated. It is shown how operation with water injection modifies component operation, a fact that allows the identification of a wider range of the performance characteristics, in comparison to dry operation. This fact may also increase the diagnostic ability of techniques employing adaptive models. The sensitivity of diagnostic procedures to the different modes of operation of a gas turbine of the type described in the paper is also discussed

Assessing Alternative Fuels for Helicopter Operation

At present, nearly 100% of aviation fuel is derived from petroleum using conventional and well known refining technology. However, the fluctuations of the fuel price and the vulnerability of crude oil sources have increased the interest of the aviation industry in alternate energy sources. The motivation of this interest is actually twofold: firstly, alternative fuels will help to stabilize price fluctuations by relieving the worldwide demand for conventional fuel. Secondly, alternative fuels could provide environmental benefits including a substantial reduction of emitted CO 2 over the fuel life cycle. Thus, the ideal alternative fuel will fulfill both requirements: relieve the demand for fuels derived from crude oil and significantly reduce CO 2 emissions. In the present paper, the effects of various alternative fuels on the operation of a medium transport/utility helicopter are investigated using performance models of the helicopter and its associated turboshaft engine. These models are developed in an object-oriented simulation environment that allows a direct mechanical connection to be established between them in order to create an integrated model. Considering the case of a typical mission for the specific helicopter/engine combination, a comparative evaluation of conventional and alternative fuels is then carried out and performance results are presented at both engine and helicopter levels

Exploring new physics frontiers through numerical relativity

The demand to obtain answers to highly complex problems within strong-field gravity has been met with significant progress in the numerical solution of Einstein's equations - along with some spectacular results - in various setups. We review techniques for solving Einstein's equations in generic spacetimes, focusing on fully nonlinear evolutions but also on how to benchmark those results with perturbative approaches. The results address problems in high-energy physics, holography, mathematical physics, fundamental physics, astrophysics and cosmology