Project Overview
Objective: Design, analyze, and construct a small-scale micro gas turbine system capable of producing sustained combustion and measurable thrust output using diesel or jet fuel. The project focuses on compressor performance, combustion chamber efficiency, and turbine design integration.
The project is currently in progress as part of the senior capstone sequence. My team and I are responsible for developing a functional prototype that demonstrates the thermodynamic cycle and validates theoretical predictions for mass flow, compression ratio, and exhaust velocity.
Design and Analysis
Our turbine system design includes three primary subsystems — the compressor and diffuser, the combustion chamber, and the turbine and exhaust nozzle. The intake and exhaust diameters are 80 mm, selected to balance airflow and pressure rise for a compact benchtop system.
To improve performance, we are using a turbocharger impeller and expeller as the rotating core, allowing us to study air compression and velocity increase under variable RPM. Analytical and simulation tools are being used to predict performance metrics such as compression ratio, mass flow rate, and thermal efficiency.
- Software Tools: SolidWorks, MATLAB, ANSYS Fluent, Excel
- Key Parameters: Inlet/exit diameter: 80 mm | Compression ratio target: 3.5–4.0 | Operating pressure: ~200 kPa
- Fuel Options: Diesel (primary), Jet-A (alternate for testing)
Current Progress
We have completed the theoretical modeling and initial CAD design of the compressor housing, combustion chamber, and turbine casing. Currently, we are focusing on manufacturing and assembly of the core system, including diffuser design optimization to improve compression and flame stability.
Ongoing work includes:
- Finalizing combustion chamber port geometry for efficient mixing and burn
- Conducting pressure and temperature simulations in ANSYS
- Developing data acquisition for thrust and temperature measurement
- Preparing prototype fabrication and safety testing
Educational Impact
This capstone project bridges multiple engineering disciplines, combining thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, materials selection, and control systems. It challenges us to apply real-world engineering practices — from modeling and simulation to fabrication and testing.
By working on this project, I’ve gained experience in:
- System-level design and team collaboration
- Combustion analysis and performance optimization
- Precision design for high-speed rotating components
- Integration of experimental data with simulation results
Future Work
In the upcoming semester, we will complete the turbine prototype and perform bench testing to validate compression ratio, velocity increase, and sustained diesel combustion. The final phase will include performance data comparison with analytical results and a detailed technical report summarizing design evolution and testing outcomes.
This page will be updated as the project progresses through fabrication and testing stages.