Session: Poster Session

Paper Number: 161907

Zero-Dimensional Aeroderivative Turbine Model for Alternative Fuel Analysis Aboard Ddg Class Ships 

Aeroderivative gas turbines are highly valued aboard ships for their compact design, high energy density, and ability to rapidly adjust to the variable load characteristics of ship propellers at sea. Understanding the off-design performance of these turbines is essential for accurately assessing their operational efficiency and behavior in real-world conditions. This study presents the development of a zero-dimensional system-level model built to analyze the impacts of alternative fuels on power output, fuel consumption, and emissions in an aero-derivative gas turbine engine. The model, developed in Matlab and Python, incorporates publicly available characteristic maps for compressors and turbines, scaled to the GE LM2500 operating point, and leverages the open-source software Cantera to simulate the combustion process. Model validation is achieved using publicly available data on the off-design performance of a single turbine and full-ship fuel consumption versus propulsion load. With the load characteristics of the Arleigh Burke Class DDG as a case study, the performance and emissions of the engine are evaluated using standard F-76 marine diesel as a baseline and compared to results obtained with hydrogen and methanol-blended fuels. The broader implications of this research extend beyond military applications, offering potential benefits for the marine transport sector—which accounts for 6% of global emissions—and other contexts where aeroderivative turbines are used for mobility or power generation.

Presenting Author: Tyler Wyka George Washington University

Presenting Author Biography: Tyler Wyka is a Master’s student in Mechanical Engineering at George Washington University, specializing in alternative energy technologies and energy systems. His current research focuses on modeling the system-level performance of aeroderivative gas turbines using alternative fuels such as hydrogen and methanol. Tyler aims to contribute to a sustainable energy transformation by evaluating the potential impact of zero-carbon alternatives on existing energy systems.

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