The ERDA/Chrysler Upgraded Gas Turbine Engine Objectives and Design

Under a contract which began in November 1972, Chrysler Corporation has been conducting an automotive gas turbine improvement program for the Division of Transportation of the Energy Research and Development Administration. The final task of this program is to design, build, and demonstrate an Upgraded Engine. The design been accomplished and is described in this paper. It utilizes a number of improvements developed and verified on the Chrysler Sixth Generation “Baseline” engines, e.g. variable inlet guide vanes, water injection, ceramic regenerators, an integrated electronic control system, a free-rotor arrangement, a low emissions fixed geometry burner, and linerless insulation. Aerodynamic details to meet higher efficiency component specifications were provided by NASA Lewis. The design also incorporates a gas bearing on the rotor and improvements in arrangement and mechanical design. A vehicle system incorporating this engine should operate with fuel economy double that of the Baseline engine system and demonstrate emissions levels within the current 1978 Federal Standards.