Flow Distribution Characteristics and Control in Marine Gas Turbine Diffusers

The object of this study was to investigate flow distribution characteristics and control in the marine gas turbine diffusers most suitable for waste heat recovery systems. The major technical problems associated with nonuniform flow distributions in heat-exchanger or flow-equipment systems were reviewed. Various means to alleviate or minimize these undesirable problems were evaluated. Four sets of candidate flow-distribution data were selected from the measured exhaust velocities of typical marine gas turbines for input to the present study. A two-dimensional turbulent flow model for diffusers was developed and computerized, and five diffuser geometries suitable for marine gas turbine waste-heat recovery applications were investigated, based on the actual inlet velocity data. The exit flow distribution characteristics (velocity, mass-flux, pressure recovery, and temperature) and diffuser performance with and without flow-distribution controls were analyzed using the computer programs developed. It was found that nonuniform flow distribution in the gas turbine exhaust can reduce diffuser efficiency to half of that attainable with uniform flow, and that the diffuser exhaust velocities will be more uniform by using guide vanes and/or flow injection than merely using nonsymmetric diffusion angles. The diffuser efficiency can be improved 20 to 36 percentage points by using these contort means.