Al-Azhar University

Department of Mechanical Engineering

MQF24: FLUID MACHINERY 2
2020-2021

Sheet (1)
Shaft Power Gas Turbine Cycle

1- In an ideal gas turbine cycle with reheat, air at state (P1, T1) is compressed
to pressure rP1 and heated to T3. The air is then expanded in two stages,
each turbine having the same pressure ratio, with reheat to T3 between
the stages. Assuming the working fluid to be a perfect gas with constant
specific heats, and that the compression and expansion are isentropic,
show that the specific work output will be a maximum when r is given by
𝟐
𝜸−𝟏
( ) 𝑻 𝟑
𝒓 𝜸 = ( 𝟑)
𝑻𝟏

2- A peak load generator is to be powered by a simple gas turbine with free

power turbine delivering 20 MW of shaft power. The following data are
applicable:

Compressor pressure ratio 11

Compressor isentropic efficiency 0. 82
Combustion pressure loss 0.4 bar
Combustion efficiency 0·99
Turbine inlet temperature 1150 K
Gas generator turbine isentropic efficiency 0.87
Power turbine isentropic efficiency 0·89
Mechanical efficiency (each shaft) 0.98
Ambient conditions Pa, Ta 1 bar, 288 K
Calculate the air mass flow required and the SFC.

[119.4 kg/s, 0.307 kg/kW h]

Page 1 of 3
3- A gas turbine is to consist of a compressor, combustion chamber, turbine
and heat exchanger. It is proposed to examine the advantage of bleeding
off a fraction (∆ṁ/ṁ) of the air delivered by the compressor and using it
to cool the turbine blades. By so doing the maximum permissible cycle
temperature may be increased from T to (T + ∆T). The gain in efficiency
due to the increase of temperature will be offset by a loss due to the
decrease in effective air flow through the turbine. Show that, on the
following assumptions, there is no net gain in efficiency when

∆ṁ ∆𝑻/𝑻
=(
ṁ 𝟏+ ∆𝑻/𝑻)
and that this result is independent of the compressor and turbine
efficiencies. Assumptions:
(1) No pressure loss in combustion chamber or heat-exchanger.
(2) The working fluid is air throughout and the specific heats are constant.
(3) The air bled for cooling purposes does no work in the turbine.
(4) The temperature of the air entering the combustion chamber is equal
to that of the turbine exhaust.
A plant of this kind operates with an inlet temperature of 288 K, a pressure
ratio of 6, a turbine isentropic efficiency of 90 % and a compressor
isentropic efficiency of 87 %. Heat transfer calculations indicate that if 5 %
of the compressor delivery is bled off for cooling purposes, the maximum
temperature of the cycle can be raised from 1000 to 1250 K.

Find the percentage increase in

(a) efficiency, and
(b) specific work output, which is achieved by the combined bleeding and
cooling process. Make the same assumptions as before and take y = 1.4
throughout.

What results would you expect if these calculations were repeated for the
plant with the heat-exchanger omitted?
[ 25.1% , 47.8 % ]

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4- An auxiliary gas turbine for use on a large airliner uses a single-shaft
configuration with air bled from the compressor discharge for aircraft
services. The unit must provide 1.5 kg/s bleed air and a shaft power of 200
kW.
Calculate (a) the total compressor air mass flow and
(b) the power available with no bleed flow, assuming the following:
Compressor pressure ratio 3.8
Compressor isentropic efficiency 0.85
Combustion pressure loss 0.12
Turbine inlet temperature 1050 K
Turbine isentropic efficiency 0.88
Mechanical efficiency (compressor rotor) 0.99
Mechanical efficiency (driven load) 0.98
Ambient conditions 1 bar, 288 K
[4.78 kg/s, 633 kW]

5- A closed cycle gas turbine is to be used in conjunction with a gas cooled

nuclear reactor. The working fluid is helium (Cp=5.19 kJ/kg K and γ= 1.66).
The layout of the plant consists of two-stage compression with
intercooling followed by a heat-exchanger; after leaving the cold side of
the heat-exchanger the helium passes through the reactor channels and
on to the turbine; from the turbine it passes through the hot-side of the
heat-exchanger and then a pre-cooler before returning to the compressor
inlet. The following data are applicable:
Compressor and turbine polytropic efficiencies 0.88
Temperature at LP compressor inlet 310K
Pressure at LP compressor inlet 14 bar
Compressor pressure ratios (LP and HP) 2
Temperature at HP compressor inlet 300K
Mass flow of helium 180 kg/s
Reactor thermal output (heat input to gas turbine) 500 MW
Pressure loss in pre-cooler and intercooler (each) 0.34 bar
Pressure loss in heat-exchanger (each side) 0.27 bar
Pressure loss in reactor channels 1.03 bar
Helium temperature at entry to reactor channels 700K
Calculate the power output and thermal efficiency, and the heat-
exchanger effectiveness implied by the data.
[214.5 Mw, 0.429, 0.782]

Page 3 of 3
 Al-Azhar University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
MQF24: FLUID MACHINERY 2
2020-2021

Sheet (2)
Centrifugal Compressor

1- The following data refer to the eye of a single-sided impeller

Inner radius 6.5 cm
Outer radius 15 cm
Mass flow 8 kg/s
Ambient conditions 1 bar, 288 K
Speed 270 rev/s
Assuming no pre-whirl and no loses in the intake duct, calculate the blade
inlet angle at root and tip of the eye, and the Mach number at the tip of the
eye. [48.2° , 25.43°, 0.843]

2- An aircraft engine is fitted with a single-sided centrifugal compressor. The

aircraft flies with a speed of 230 m/s at an altitude where the pressure is
0.23 bar and the temperature 217 K. The intake duct of the impeller eye
contains fixed vanes which give the air pre-whirl of 25° at all radii. The
inner and outer diameters of the eye are 18 and 33 cm respectively, the
diameter of the impeller periphery is 54 cm and the rotational speed 270
rev /s. Estimate the stagnation pressure at the compressor outlet when
the mass flow is 3.6 kg/s.
Neglect losses in the inlet duct and fixed vanes, and assume that the
isentropic efficiency of the compressor is 0.80. Take the slip factor as 0.9
and the power input factor as 1.04. [1.75 bar]

Page 1 of 3
3- The following results were obtained from a test on a small single-sided
centrifugal compressor:

Compressor delivery stagnation pressure 2.97 bar

Compressor delivery stagnation temperature 429 K
Static pressure at impeller tip 1.92 bar
Mass flow 0.60 kg/s
Rotational speed 766 rev/s
Ambient conditions 0.99 bar and 288 K

Calculate the overall isentropic efficiency of the compressor. The diameter of

the impeller is 16.5 cm, the axial depth of the vaneless diffuser is 1 cm and
the number of impeller vanes (n) is 17. Making use of the Stanitz equation
for slip factor. namely σ= 1 - (0.63 π/n ), calculate the stagnation pressure at
the impeller tip and hence find the fraction of the overall loss which occurs
in the impeller. [0.75; 3.35 bar, 0.60]

4- The following design data apply to a double-sided centrifugal

compressor:
Outer diameter of impeller 50 cm
Speed 270 rev/s
Mass flow 16 kg/s
Inlet temperature 288 K
Inlet pressure 1.01 bar
Isentropic efficiency of impeller only 0.90
Radial gap of vane less space 4 cm
Axial depth of vaneless space 5 cm
Slip factor 0.9
Power input factor 1.04

Page 2 of 3
(a) Calculate the stagnation pressure and temperature at the outlet of the
impeller, assuming no pre-whirl.
(b) Show that the radial outlet velocity at the impeller tip is about 96 m/s and
hence find the Mach number and air leaving angle at the impeller tip. (In
calculating the circumferential area at the tip, the thickness of the impeller
disc may be neglected.)
(c) Assuming isentropic diffusion in the vaneless space, find the correct angle
of the leading edges of the diffuser vanes, and also find the Mach number at
this radius.
[(a) 4.40 bar, 455 K (b) 1.01, 14.08° (c) 12.40°, 0.842]

5- A single-sided centrifugal compressor is to deliver 14 kg/ s of air when

operating at a pressure ratio of 4: I and a speed of 200 rev/s. The inlet
stagnation conditions may be taken as 288 K and 1 bar. Assuming a slip
factor of 0.9, a power input factor of 1.04 and an overall isentropic
efficiency of 0.8, estimate the overall diameter of the impeller.
If the Mach number is not to exceed unity at the impeller tip, and 50 per
cent of the losses are assumed to occur in the impeller, find the minimum
possible axial depth of the diffuser. [68.9 cm, 5.26 cm]

Page 3 of 3
 Al-Azhar University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
MQF24: FLUID MACHINERY 2
2020-2021

Sheet (3)
Axial Flow Compressor

1- An axial flow compressor stage has blade root, mean and tip velocities of
150, 200 and 250 m/s. The stage is to be designed for a stagnation
temperature rise of 20 K and an axial velocity of 150 m/s, both ·constant
from root to tip. The work done factor is 0.93. Assuming 50 per cent
reaction at mean radius calculate the stage air angles at root, mean and
tip and the degree of reaction at root and tip for a free vortex design.

2- Recalculate the stage air angles for the same data as in the previous
question for a stage with 50 per cent reaction at all radii, and compare the
results with those for the free vortex design.

3- The first stage of an axial compressor is designed on free vortex principles,

with no inlet guide vanes. The rotational speed is 6000 rev/min and the
stagnation temperature rise is 20 K. The hub-tip ratio is 0.60, the work
done factor is 0.93 and the isentropic efficiency of the stage is 0.89.
Assuming an inlet velocity of 140 m/s and ambient conditions of 1.01 bar
and 288 K, calculate;

(a) The tip radius and corresponding rotor air angles β1 and β2, if the
Mach number relative to the tip is limited to 0.95.
(b) The mass flow entering the stage.
(c) The stage stagnation pressure ratio and power required.
(d) The rotor air angles at the root section.

Page 1 of 2
4- An axial flow compressor has an overall pressure ratio of 4 and mass flow
of 3 kg/ s. If the polytropic efficiency is 88 per cent and the stagnation
temperature rise per stage must not exceed 25 K, calculate the number
of stages required and the pressure ratio of the first and last stages.
Assume equal temperature rise in all stages. If the absolute velocity
approaching the last rotor is 165 m/s at an angle of 20° from the axial
direction, the work done factor is 0.83, the velocity diagram is
symmetrical, and the mean diameter of the last stage rotor is 18 cm,
calculate the rotational speed and the length of the last stage rotor blade
at inlet to the stage. Ambient conditions are 1.01 bar and 288 K.

5- A helicopter gas turbine requires an overall compressor pressure ratio of

10 :1. This is to be obtained using a two-spool layout consisting of a four-
stage axial compressor followed by a single-stage centrifugal compressor.
The polytropic efficiency of the axial compressor is 92 per cent and that
of the centrifugal is 83 per cent. The axial compressor has a stage
temperature rise of 30 K, using a 50 per cent reaction design with a stator
outlet angle of 20°. If the mean diameter of each stage is 25 cm and each
stage is identical, calculate the required rotational speed. Assume a work
done factor of 0.86 and a constant axial velocity of 150 m/s. Assuming an
axial velocity at the eye of the impeller, an impeller tip diameter of 33 cm,
a slip factor of 0·90 and a power input factor of 1.04, calculate the
rotational speed required for the centrifugal compressor. Ambient
conditions are 1.01 bar and 288 K.

Page 2 of 2
 Al-Azhar University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
MQF24: FLUID MACHINERY 2
2020-2021

Sheet (4)
Axial Flow Gas Turbine
1- A mean-diameter design of a turbine stage having equal inlet and outlet
velocities leads to the following data;

Mass flow m 20 kg/s

Inlet temperature To1 1000 K
Inlet pressure POl 4.0 bar
Axial velocity (constant through stage) Vf 260 m/s
Blade speed U 360 m/s
Nozzle efflux angle α2 65 degrees
Stage exit swirl α3 10 degrees

Determine the rotor blade gas angles( β2 , β3 ), degree of reaction, temperature

drop coefficient (2Cp ∆T0s / U2) and power output.
Assuming a nozzle loss coefficient λN of 0.05, calculate the nozzle throat area
required (ignoring the effect of friction on the critical conditions).

2- The following particulars relate to a single-stage turbine of free vortex

design.

Inlet temperature To1 1050 K

Inlet pressure Pol 3.8 bar
Pressure ratio Pol/Po3 2.0
Outlet velocity V3 275 m/s
Blade speed" at root radius, Ur 300 m/s
Turbine isentropic efficiency η, 0.88

The turbine is designed for zero reaction (Ʌ= 0) at the root radius, and the
velocities at inlet and outlet ( V1 and V3) are both equal and axial. Calculate the
nozzle efflux angle α2 and blade inlet gas angle β2 at the root radius.
If the tip/root radius ratio of the annulus at exit from the nozzle blades is 1.4,
determine the nozzle efflux angle and degree of reaction at the tip radius.
Assuming a nozzle blade loss coefficient λN of 0.05 calculate the static pressure
at inlet and outlet of the rotor blades at the root radius and thereby show that even
at the root there is some expansion in the rotor blade passages under these
conditions.
Page 1 of 3
 3- The following data apply to a single-stage turbine designed on free-vortex
theory.
Mass flow 36 kg/s
Inlet temperature To1 1200 K
Inlet pressure Po1 8.0 bar
Temperature drop ∆To13 150 K
Isentropic efficiency ηt 0.90
Mean blade speed Um 320 m/s
Rotational speed N 250 rev/s
Outlet velocity V3 400 m/s

The outlet velocity is axial. Calculate the blade height and radius ratio of the
annulus from the outlet conditions.
The turbine is designed with a constant annulus area through the stage, i.e.
with no flare. Assuming a nozzle loss coefficient λN of 0.07, show that
continuity is satisfied when the axial velocity at exit from the nozzles is 346
m/s. Thence calculate the inlet Mach number relative to the rotor blade at the
root radius.

4- The example of a free vortex turbine design considered yielded the

following. results for the gas angles.

The values of the radius ratios in plane 2 were (rm/rr)2 = 1.164 and (rm/rt)2 = 0.877.
Using the same mean diameter angles, calculate β2 at tip and root for a constant
nozzle angle design in which α2 and Vw2r are constant over the annulus.

Compare the two designs by sketching the velocity diagrams and commenting
qualitatively on such aspects as the radial variation of degree of reaction and blade
inlet Mach number.

To satisfy radial equilibrium with constant nozzle angle, the constant angular
2
momentum condition should strictly be replaced by constant Vw. 𝑟 𝑠𝑖𝑛 α . Show,
by recalculating β2 at tip and root, that this refinement has only a small effect on
the required blade angle.

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 5- In certain designs the maximum mass flow passed by a turbine may be
determined by choking in the turbine amulas at outlet instead of in the
turbine nozzles. The maximum mass flow will then depend not merely on
the inlet conditions as in the case of expansion in a nozzle, but also upon
the work output per unit mass flow. Given fixed values of the inlet
conditions Po1 and To1, the temperature equivalent of the specific work
output ATo13, the annulus area A at the turbine outlet and that there is no
outlet swirl, show that for an isentropic expansion to a varying outlet static
temperature T3 the maximum flow can be expressed by

Comment on the effect this will have on the turbine mass flow versus pressure
ratio characteristic.

Page 3 of 3
 Al-Azhar University
Department of Mechanical Engineering
MQF24: FLUID MACHINERY 2
2020-2021

Sheet (5)
Matching of Cycle Components
1- The following data refer to a single-shaft gas turbine running at its design
speed.

The combustion pressure loss is 5 per cent of the compressor delivery pressure
and the ambient conditions are 1.01 bar and 288 K. Mechanical losses can be
neglected. The 'non-dimensional' flows are based on m in kg/s, p in bar and T in
K, all pressures and temperatures being stagnation values.
Calculate the power output when operating at a turbine inlet temperature of
1100 K. Comment briefly on the variation in thermal efficiency as the load is
reduced at constant speed.

2- The following data refer to a gas turbine with a free power turbine,
operating at design speed.

𝑇4
Assuming that the power turbine is choked, the value of m√ being 188,
𝑃4
determine the design values of compressor pressure ratio and turbine inlet
temperature.

Page 1 of 4
Neglect all pressure losses and assume the mechanical efficiency of the gas
generator rotor to be 0.98 and take the ambient temperature as 288 K. The
'nondimensional' flows quoted are based on m in kg/s, P in bar and T in K, all
pressures and temperatures being stagnation values. The suffixes 1, 2, 3 and 4
refer to the following locations:
1-compressor inlet
2-compressor delivery
3-gas-generator turbine inlet
4-power turbine inlet.

3- When running at a low power condition a gas turbine with free power
turbine operates at a compressor pressure ratio of 2-60. The combustion
chamber pressure loss is 4 per cent of the compressor delivery pressure and
the exhaust pressure loss can be ignored. The turbine characteristics are
given below:

The 'non-dimensional' flows are based on m in kg/s, P in bar and T in K. all

pressures and temperatures being stagnation values.
Calculate the gas-generator turbine pressure ratio at this condition. Assuming the
compressor characteristic to be known, indicate briefly how you would calculate
the turbine inlet temperature.

Page 2 of 4
 4- A gas turbine with a free power turbine gives the following results when
tested at ambient conditions of 1.0 bar and 288 K.

The 'non-dimensional' flows are based on m in kg/s, P in bar and T in K, all

pressures and temperatures being stagnation values. The power turbine remains
choked for all of these conditions. The gas-generator turbine inlet temperature at
95 per cent design mechanical speed was found to be 1075 K. Assuming single-
line turbine flow characteristics, constant turbine
efficiency, and constant mechanical efficiency of the gas-generator rotor,
calculate;

(a) the gas-generator turbine inlet temperature at design mechanical speed with
the same ambient conditions.

(b) the compressor power absorbed when running at 95 per cent design
mechanical speed with ambient conditions of 0.76 bar and 273 K.

Sketch the operating line on the compressor characteristic, and discuss the effect
of ambient temperature on net power output for a fixed gas-generator mechanical
speed.

Page 3 of 4
 5- A simple gas turbine is to be used as a source of compressed air. The
turbine produces just enough work to drive the compressor which delivers
an airflow, mc, greater than that required for the turbine by an amount mb.
The design points operating conditions are
𝑇 𝑃2
m√ 1 = 22.8 =4
𝑃 1 𝑃1

and at the design point we also have T3/T1 = 3.3, ηc= 0.8 and ηt = 0.85. A rough
estimate of the equilibrium running line is required on the compressor
characteristic for the conditions where T3/T1 is maintained constant and the
amount of air bled off, mb, is varied.
For this purpose, the efficiencies of the compressor and turbine can be assumed
to be constant, the mechanical transmission loss and the combustion pressure loss
can be neglected, and the turbine 'non-dimensional' mass flow can be assumed
independent of speed and related to the pressure ratio r by the expression

𝑻 𝟏
m√ 𝟑 = K √(𝟏 − 𝟐 )
𝑷 𝟑 𝒓

where; m = mc - mb and k is a constant:

As an example of the calculations required, find the operating point on the
𝑻𝟏
compressor characteristic for the condition where mb √ is reduced to three
𝑷𝟏
quarters of its value at the design point. Take γ = 1.4 throughout.

Page 4 of 4