In this paper, research carried out to develop and optimise the variable guide vane schedule that eventually resulted in ‘quick start’ of a modern industrial gas turbine engine by using an extensively instrumented scaled compressor rig is reported. Compressor rig testing carried out employing an ‘Initial schedule’ identified regions in the compressor map that are low on surge margin and regions that develop rotating stall.  A 2-cell rotating stall region along the predicted engine running line that caused non-synchronous vibration of a rotor blade at unacceptable levels was identified. Variable guide vane schedule was then optimised employing a design of experiments approach balancing the aerodynamic, aero-mechanical and blade dynamic characteristics. This resulted in ‘Silent Start’ variable guide vane schedule, so named as it prevents the development of rotating stall in the start regime hence avoiding the non-synchronous and significantly increasing the surge margin at some speeds. Aerodynamic performance and aero-mechanical characteristics of the compressor due to the initial schedule and the optimised ‘Silent Start’ schedule are compared. Variable guide vane schedule thus developed was later employed on to a modern twin shaft engine which demonstrated four times quicker start to minimum load in addition to improving the operability of the engine.


Quick Start of an Industrial Gas Turbine Engine Through the Development of \u201cSilent Start\u201d VGV Schedule

Division / Sponsor:
International Gas Turbine Institute (IGTI)

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/GT/GT2020/volume/84058

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