Updated 29 July 2023
Hello there. This is along overdue update of the blog. First in order to comply with the latest regulations I can confirm that no cookies are collected by this blog site and that every effort is made to follow guidelines on Blog publishing.
The Big News is that in April 2019 Ronald has published his book titled:
THE
DEVELOPMENT AND HISTORY OF THE GAS TURBINE FOR POWER GENERATION, INDUSTRIAL AND
MARINE PURPOSES
Publisher: Power + Energy Associates
Morpeth,
Northumberland,
United Kingdom NE61 2RX
Purchase Price: £35.00 each plus postage
Reduced rates available for bulk purchase
Contact us by e.mail: enquiries@power-energy.co.uk
The book is now available to purchase. Send an e-mail or check out www.power-energy.co.uk
9 Chapters
460 Pages
172 References
149 Photos
64 Figures
5 Annexes
Thanks to all who have supported this venture and all contributors.
Invitation to contributors: The work on researching and publishing this history of The Industrial Gas Turbine continues. Contributors are cordially invited to make further comments and provide additional contributions to add to the industrial gas turbine archive. Any comments on the listing of gas turbines will be appreciated. Recollections of earlier times are welcomed as together we can add to the background of the gas turbine development and the people involved.
One supporter has sent the author a copy of Practical Mechanics from May 1946. This has an article on the development of the aircraft jet engine. Perhaps you have documents or photos that you would like to contribute to the archive. Send in anything you think will help.
During 2011 the Author started preparation of a comprehensive history of the development of the Industrial Gas Turbine covering the first 70 years in the progress of the gas turbine for land based, industrial and marine applications. The history of more than 80 engineering companies is included. This story started around 1940 when, following the success of Brown Boveri and the Whittle aircraft engine, with UK governmental support, during the 1940's, a number of British companies enthusiastically entered the race to exploit the concept of the gas turbine for power generation, propulsion and other purposes. The companies involved included British, European, US, Japanese and others.
This has proved to be a really an exciting story and one which turned out to be a race with many challengers. The work of the early Pioneers has also been reviewed and so far more than 26 individual pioneer contributions leading to the success of the industrial gas turbine have been identified. This historical account, being more than being simply a historical account, has been a collaboration of many individuals all of whom have willingly shared their experiences, knowledge, information and advice. The written account gives due recognition to all these contributors.
Several different technological approaches as well as progress in gas turbine operational conditions and performance development have been reviewed. The many different applications of the industrial gas turbine have been researched including power generation, mechanical drive, marine propulsion, road transport, locomotive engines and others. The different types of fuels used in the industrial gas turbine are mentioned. Research Institutions have been listed as well as listing a number of notable gas turbine installations being described for this period of the industrial gas turbine story.
In preparing the history, in addition to the contributions by all the Contributors, the Author has drawn on the archives of professional institutions, historical documents, and a number of other sources. An extensive list of references is has been provided with the history.
Part 1 was published in the Power Engineer in 2011
Part II was published in the Power Engineer in 2018 and cover the following 25 years (1990-2017) bringing the industrial gas turbine story up to its current advanced state of development and a view of the future. This is a story that continues with present day designers striving to reach ever increasing targets of performance, higher operating conditions and increasing flexibility of operation.
The Book was published in April 2019.
Ronald Hunt CEng FIMechE FIDGTE
Power + Energy Associates
Morpeth United Kingdom
Web site: www.power-energy.co.uk
Since the Blog was first posted in January 2011 the following presentations have been made:
IDGTE in Peterborough January 2011
Newcomen Society in Newcastle upon Tyne April 2011
IMechE / IET joint meeting in Lincoln April 2011
Cranfield University in May 2011
IMechE at Lutterworth in November 2011
IMechE at Brooklands in January 2012
APPP Bangkok Thailand in February 2012
IDGTE MENA Region Tunisia in April 2012
BSI Gas Turbine Committee March 2013
Cranfield University in May 2013
IDGTE Gas Turbine Conference Nov 2013
IDGTE Gas Turbine Conference Nov 2015
IDGTE Gas Turbine Conference Nov 2017
Cranfield University in April 2018 and again in November 2022
Lincoln University in October 2018
Acknowledgements:
This history and development of the gas turbine documents the achievements of the gas turbine manufacturers listed below. To date of publishing the update 99 manufacturing companies have been identified and more than 1900 models of gas turbines listed. In the book each of these manufacturers have been mentioned and the developments of each manufacturer analysed:
W H Allen - United Kingdom
ACEC Ateliers De Constructions
AEG Kanis - Germany
Allison Gas Turbine Division
Allis Chalmers USA
Alsthom Turbines - France
Ansaldo Energia - Italy
Associated Electrical Industries (AEI) - United Kingdom
Austin Motors - United Kingdom
Bristol Siddeley - United Kingdom
British Thomson Houston - United Kingdom
Brown Boveri (BBC) - Switzerland
Brush Electrical - United Kingdom
Bladon Jets - United Kingdom
Bladon Jets - United Kingdom
BMW - Germany
Budworth Turbines - United Kingdom
Bharat Heavy Electricals - India
Centrax Gas Turbines - United Kingdom
C A Parsons - United Kingdom
Chrysler Corporation USA
Cooper Bessemer/ Cooper Rolls USA
Curtiss Wright USA
Dresser Industries USA
Elliott Turbomachinery USA
English Electric - United Kingdom
Escher Wyss - Switzerland
Ebara Corporation - Japan
Fiat Termomeccanica - Italy
Ford - Mid Continent USA
Fuji Electric – Japan
General Electric Company - United Kingdom
General Electric USA
Garrett Corporation USA
Hitachi – Japan
IHI - Japan
Ingersoll Rand USA
John Brown - United Kingdom
Japan Gas Turbine
Kongsberg - Norway
Kawasaki Heavy Industries - Japan
Klockner Humboldt Deutz (KHD) - Germany
Leyland Gas Turbines - United Kingdom
Metropolitan Vickers - United Kingdom
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) - Japan
Mitsui Engineering and Shipbuilding - Japan
Nuovo Pignone - Italy
Turbotecnica - France
Orenda Engines USA
OPRA Optimal
Rolls-Royce Industrial and Marine - United Kingdom
Rover Company - United Kingdom
Ruston & Hornsby - United Kingdom
Siemens - Germany
Skoda - Czech Republic
Solar Turbines USA
Stal-Laval Turbine Company - Sweden
Sulzer Brothers - Switzerland
Toshiba Corporation - Japan
Turbomeca - France
THM MAN
United Technologies USA
Volvo - Sweden
Westinghouse USA
Waukesha Motor Company USA
Author's Note. Any further contributions to this history are most welcome. PLEASE post your comments here on the Blog and share your experience. Email your comments and questions. Send in any related information and photographs to further the development of this important archive. Thanking you for your interest.
Comments on the blog are welcome.
Ronald Hunt
enquiries@power-energy.co.uk
Postal address: Morpeth, Northumberland, United Kingdom NE61 2RX
Blog updated:
22-April-2014
04-May-2016
24-Jun-2016
20-Jul-2019
29-Jul-2023
