Comprehensive approach to static firing tests of micro gas turbine engines powered by liquid fuels

The paper presents test results on the combustion of liquid fuels in micro gas turbine engines (MGTE). A setup was designed and built to determine the following MGTE characteristics: thrust, inlet static pressure, compressor static pressure, compressor total pressure, combustor total pressure, turbine total pressure, turbine speed, and the air temperature at the inlet, inside the compressor, at the turbine outlet, and at the nozzle exit. Thermodynamic cycle analysis of MGTEs was performed in the operation mode providing the required thrust. Noise and vibration levels of the MGTE operation were measured using a noise and vibration analyzer. Concentrations of anthropogenic emissions (CO, CO2, NO, NO2, N2O, SO2, CH4, C3H8) were recorded using a set of sensors. The tests revealed consistent patterns in the variation of throttle characteristics, gas composition, noise, and vibration in different engine operation modes. The test results were processed to produce plots of the key MGTE characteristics. Recommendations were developed for testing new types of fuels in MGTEs.