Transmission Considerations for Gas Turbines

The effects of transmission selection on the performance and fuel economy of a gas turbine powered automobile are analyzed. Both single-shaft and two-shaft turbines are considered. Examples are given of fuel economy for an urban cycle, and performance of these engines with an infinitely variable transmission and with a power shift automatic transmission. The primary conclusions are that the infinitely variable transmission is necessary for a single-shaft engine and highly desirable for a two-shaft engine, and the use of an infinitely variable transmission with the single-shaft turbine eliminates any need for the wider output speed range of a two-shaft engine.