The Automotive Gas Turbine - Its Fuel and Lubricant Requirements

This paper reviews available information on the fuel and lubricant requirements of vehicular size gas turbine engines to highlight important quality aspects and indicate potential trouble spots. The indications are that the hydrogen content, boiling range, and viscosity of the fuel are important parameters related to carbon deposition, flame luminosity, and spray characteristics.

These turbine engines perform well on available petroleum base lubricating oils of good oxidation resistance and antiwear characteristics. Special fuels and lubricants can be provided for the automotive turbine, if necessary. However, their distribution and handling costs will be high. There will thus be a strong price incentive to use currently available products wherever possible.