Inter-Turbine Burner Technology Demonstration

The development of an Inter-Turbine Burner (ITB) for improving the part power performance of small gas turbine engines is proposed. An Inter-Turbine Burner is a second combustor placed between the gas generator exit and the power turbine to “reheat” the engine gas stream before it enters the power turbine. The Inter-Turbine burner is used to increase engine power at the maximum power setting, permitting the core engine to be run closer to its design condition while at part power settings. Cycle analysis shows significant improvement in engine power at the full power condition with an improvement in specific fuel consumption at part power conditions. These characteristics are very beneficial in certain military missions. In order to be effective, the ITB must exhibit low pressure loss and several other components of a gas-turbine engine must be modified to optimize performance. In the proposed effort APRI will work with Honeywell Aircraft Engines to identify relevant missions and engines that can benefit from this technology, optimize engine cycle and other engine components, and detail ITB designs and their integration into small gas turbine engines. These designs will be based, in part, on APRI’s prior work on compact trapped vortex combustors.