Assuming that the turbine inlet temperature of a gas turbine engine remains constant, which of the following operating parameter changes would be noted with an increase in the compressor inlet air temperature?
• Ideal gas law relationship between temperature, density, and volume of air entering the compressor • How mass airflow through a compressor depends on air density at the inlet • Effect of hotter compressor inlet air on overall gas turbine power and efficiency
• If the turbine inlet temperature stays fixed, what has to change in fuel flow when the inlet air is already hotter? More fuel, less fuel, or the same? • How does increasing inlet air temperature affect air density, and what does that do to the actual mass of air the compressor can take in for each revolution? • If the mass of air going through the engine changes, what happens to the total energy that can be released in the combustor and then turned into shaft power?
• Recall that for a given volume, warmer air is less dense than colder air (think of hot vs. cold weather performance of engines). • Think about whether mass airflow and volume flow behave the same way when temperature increases at constant compressor speed. • Check which choice correctly links reduced or increased mass airflow to the resulting change in turbine power output and exhaust temperature.
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