The profitability of the turbine engine in industrial vehicles is evaluated by a computer analysis which simulates engine and vehicle performance. Total operating cost is used as the basis for comparison. Results show industrial vehicles with current simple-cycle turbine engines are only marginally competitive with diesel-powered vehicles because of higher initial cost and higher fuel consumption. The requirements of a competitive turbine engine showing the trade-off between thermal efficiency and initial price are presented. Methods investigated of increasing thermal efficiency include increased turbine inlet temperatures, increased pressure ratios, closed-cycle waste-heat recovery system, and regeneration. An initial price is established for each of these higher efficiency cycles to be competitive. From these results, promising areas of development are identified.

Volume Subject Area:
General
Topics:
Engines, Thermal efficiency, Vehicles, Cycles, Gas turbines, Computers, Diesel, Fuel consumption, Pressure, Profitability, Temperature, Tradeoffs, Turbines, Waste heat
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