CHAPTER LIST

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The successful development of modern aviation engines and industrial turbines is a classic example of engineering ingenuity, enduring leadership, and technical substance at their best. In the new order of globalization and an international market economy the role played by the turbine industry stands at the forefront. Turbine technology has given rise to the greatest inventions of the past century in the aviation and power generation industries. Brand new technologies have developed to satisfy the ever increasing demands and complexities of turbine parts. Superalloys have come into existence due to the need for turbine components to operate at very high temperatures. Airfoils for compressors and turbines are designed using aerodynamic theory to determine the concept of lift and losses arising from turbulent fluid flow. Safe combustion of fuels alleviates smoke, nitric oxides, and other harmful pollutants. New manufacturing processes have evolved to form the complex shape of the parts.

The value of aviation and nonaviation gas turbines produced worldwide during the calendar year 2001 reached an all-time high, just short of $50 billion, exemplifying the long way the industry has come since its inception 100 years ago. The turbines span a wide range of capacities, starting with microturbines weighing little more than 100 lb and producing 25 kW to provide electrical power and...