GAS TURBINE TERMINOLOGY.

Accessory Compartment A sheet metal house with access doors which may be located on the same base as the turbine or on a separate base. It contains
the mechanical accessories needed to support the prime mover operation.
Accessory Coupling A fluid or grease filled flexible coupling which drives the accessory gear from (the forward end of) the prime mover.
Accessory Gear Encompasses a number of gears which drive most of the gas turbine accessories at the proper speeds and which connects the turbine to its
starting device. The gear is driven by the starting device, and then by the turbine when the unit reaches self–sufficient speed. Common items driven by this gear
are: liquid fuel pump, water pump, main lube pump, main hydraulic pump, main atomizing air compressor.
Accessory Gear Box Refers to the complete accessory gear assembly.
Accumulator A hydro–pneumatic device designed to absorb a hydraulic shock and to deliver a regulated force (in the form of pressure and flow) during
transient demands on a system.
Acid Removal Filter The machine part that neutralizes acid in the lube oil supply.
Actuator A self–contained device designed to deliver a controlled or regulated force in order to activate some other device.
Aft End The exhaust end of the gas turbine.
Aftercooler The atomizing air cooler downstream of the main atomizing air compressor.
Air Separator The device which removes large particulate matter from an air supply via an inertial or centrifugal force.
Ambient Air Air surrounding the gas turbine housing which enters the turbine to support combustion.
Annular Space or Annulus The ring like space between the combustion liner and the flow shield.
Anti–Icing System Preheating of the inlet air to prevent ice formation in the inlet system.
Atomizing Air High pressure air which is used to break up liquid fuel into small droplets to improve the combustion.
Aux. Hydraulic Supply Pump The motor driven high pressure pump used to supply servo pressure during start–up or emergency conditions.
Aux. Lube Pump Provides lubricating oil during start–up and shutdown, and serve as a standby to the main pump. An AC motor is usually the drive source.
Axial Flow A (gas turbine) compressor which moves air axially through a series of rotor and stator compressor blades. The rotating elements impart
momentum to the air mass, and the stator elements convert that momentum to pressure in conjunction with the converging walls of the compressor casing.
Base Load The load at the rated temperature control setpoint at which the turbine can be operated to maintain the recommended parts life expectancy.
Bearing The stationary machine part which contains the journal bearing liner.
Bearing Feed Header The section of the lube oil piping, downstream of the oil filters, which carries lubrication to the individual turbine bearings.
Bearing Seal A general term identifying a means of preventing oil leakage from a bearing.
Bellmouth The flared bell–shaped cast inlet which provides an even airflow distribution to the compressor through the inlet guide vanes.
Black Start The means of starting a turbine without incoming AC power.
Blade A rotating or stationary airfoil in an axial compressor.
Blow Off Valve A valve which bypasses air from the compressor around the regenerator and the high and low pressure turbines (i.e. two (2) shafts
gas turbine) to reduce available energy and prevent overspeed during a sudden loss of load. It is primarily used on two shaft, generator drives.
Brittle The loss of resiliency in the parent metal due to aging, extreme cold or chemical action.
Brake Horsepower The horsepower developed at the load coupling.
Buckets Airfoil elements mounted radially on the rotor wheel to transfer energy from the working medium to the turbine rotor.
Burnishing The process of smoothing a metal surface by means of a mechanical action with no loss of material. This normally occurs on plain
bearing surfaces.
Bypass Valve A device which regulates the flow of a fluid in: A) A fuel bypass valve on a liquid fuel system using a positive displacement pump or, B)
An air control valve used for compressor pulsation protection.
Centrifugal Separator A device used to remove dust from the gas turbine cooling and sealing air system. Separation is achieved by a centrifugal
action.
Chamfer A beveled edge (i.e. by the removal of some of the gear material at an angle from the top land to the bottom land at the ends of the teeth.
Check Valve A device which allows fluid flow in only one (1) direction.
CO2 Carbon dioxide, used as a fire extinguishing medium.
Combustor or Combustion Chamber The mechanical component of the combustion system in which the combustion takes place (increasing the
temperature of the working medium).
Combustion Liner The chamber where chemical energy is released and added to the gas flow path.
Combustion System A system consisting of fuel nozzles, spark plugs, flame detectors, crossfire tubes, combustion liners, transition pieces and a
combustion casing or wrapper.
Compression Ratio The ratio of the compressor discharge pressure to the inlet pressure.
Compressor The mechanical component which is used to increase the pressure of the working medium within its structure.
Compressor Discharge Casing Contains the last stages of the compressor stator blades and is used to:
— Join the compressor and turbine stators
— Support the forward end of the combustion wrapper
— Provide an inner support for the first stage turbine nozzles.
— May provide support for a bearing
Control Compt. (Control CAB) The compartment which contains the gas turbine electrical controls and protection equipment.
Cooling and Sealing Air A system which provides air pressure for cooling and sealing various turbine components.
Cooling Water Pump Provides cooling water flow for the system. A gear box or electric motor drives the pump.
Cooling Water Radiator The on or off base water/air or water/water heat exchanger.
Coupling A component which connects a driven component to the drive source. Examples: Accessory Gear Coupling, Load Coupling, Pump
Coupling, Starting Motor Coupling, etc.
Coupling Comp. A housing for the load coupling.
Cranking The turning of the turbine rotor during start–up or shutdown.
Crossfire Tubes The piping which interconnects the combustion chambers on multiple combustion chamber turbines. These tubes also allow flame
propagation from the two (2) spark plug ignited combustors to the other chambers.
Cycle Thermal The ratio of the net work output to the total heat input = [ Work of Turbine – Work of Efficiency Compressor ]/Heat Input.
Diaphragm The stationary element containing a set of nozzles used to expand the working medium and direct it against the rotating blades.
Diffuser The section designed to increase the area of the flowpath to convert flow velocity to static fluid pressure.
Distance Piece A hollow cylindrical shaft used to couple the axial–flow compressor to the first stage turbine wheel.
Eductor A device used for evacuating an enclosed space usually by means of air purge.
Electrostatic A device used for removing oil particles from an air/oilmixture using the charged particle Precipitator method.
Emergency Stop An immediate de–activation of the fuel system due to an emergency electrical or mechanical device or done manually.
Emergency Lube Oil Pump The back–up lube oil pump to the main pump. It uses the 125 Vdc battery to power the motor.
Evaporator Cooling Liquid (usually water) is added to an air supply, and the resultant evaporation cools the air mass and increases its mass per unit volume.
Exhaust Diffuser The component which slows the exhaust gas exit from the last turbine stage to recover energy, and reduce losses.
Exhaust Frame The machine part which usually support the aft journal bearing. The air discharged from the exhaust diffuser is directed to the turning vanes.
Air–cooled, internal struts maintain position of the bearing.
Exhaust Hood The component which surrounds the aft bearing area and is bolted to the turbine case aft flange. It assists in guiding air flow in to the turning
vanes.
Exhaust Plenum An enclosed cavity which receives discharged exhaust gases after the gases exit from the load turbine wheel.
Exhaust Ports Machine bosses on the compressor casing which extracts air for cooling and sealing.
Exhaust Pressure Drop Exhaust duct losses.
Exhaust Stack The exhaust assembly which can include silencing sections.
Exit Guide Vanes Guide vanes at the exhaust end of the load turbine which direct the gas flow to the exhaust.
Expansion Joints Devices that allow thermal expansion.
Extraction Valves Devices used to assist in preventing compressor surge by allowing air to be extracted during off–design periods from an intermediate
compressor stage.
Filters Components normally used to remove solid particulate matter in a given size range from an air/fluid supply and from lube oil.
Fin Fan (Cooling Fan) A mechanically or electric motor driven air fan used tocool the water running through the radiators.
Firing Temp The temperature of the air mass at the inlet of the first stage turbine nozzle.
Flame Detectors Sensors (usually ultraviolet) used to detect flame.
Flow Divider A device which distributers fuel flow equally to the fuel nozzles.
Fluid A general term used to describe a liquid or gas.
Fuel Forwarding Skid The off–base pumping unit used to transfer, condition and control the flow of liquid fuel to the turbine.
Fuel, Gas Either natural gas with a high heat content or manufactured gas.
Fuel, Light Distillate (Also known as No. 2 fuel.) A volatile distillate fuel having good combustion properties, clean burning and readily atomized. Preheating is
usually not necessary.
Fuel Nozzle The device that injects fuel into the combustion chamber.
Fuel Oil Stop Valve A spring–closed, hydraulically opened device used as a positive shutoff of liquid fuel.
Fuel Pump, Main The shaft driven, high pressure, liquid fuel pump.
Fuel, Residual Low volatility petroleum products remaining at the end of a refinery distillation processes. All residual fuels require heating for pumping, filtering
and proper air atomization at the fuel nozzle.
Fuel Treatment The process of treating residual fuel to eliminate or inhibit contaminants.
GAC Abbreviation for the Generator Auxiliary Compartment containing high voltage switch gear and excitation.
Gib Block A steel block welded to the turbine base which has adjusting bolts for axial and transverse locating of the turbine. Provision is made for a gib key in
the gib block.
Gib Key The key for the gib block (i.e. described above). It is machined as an integral part of the lower half of the exhaust frame.
Heat Consumption The heat consumed at rated output (i.e. BTU/hr.).
Heat Exchanger/Cooler The heat transfer equipment used to extract excessive heat from one working fluid and transmit it to another non–working fluid for
eventual dissipation to the atmosphere.
Heat Rate The ratio of input energy to output energy (i.e. BTU/BHP–HR).
Heat Recovery System The means of recovering heat which would otherwise be lost during the process.
Heating Value The heat content of a given fuel (i.e. BTU/lb.).
High Pressure Turbine The first stage turbine (that drives the compressor on 2–shaft gas turbines).
Hot Gas Path A path of flow of the hot gases consisting of the combustion chambers, transition pieces, turbine nozzles and buckets, and the exhaust section.
Hydraulic Ratchet A form of turning gear which turns the rotor slightly at periodic intervals.
Inductor Alternator A permanent magnet type of AC generator connected to the compressor shaft.
Inlet Guide Vane The guide vanes at the inlet to the compressor which direct and control the air flow to the first stage of the axial flow compressor.
Inlet Plenum An enclosed cavity that directs the inlet air to the gas turbine.
Inlet Pressure Drop The inlet duct pressure drop (in inches of water).
Inlet Temperature The inlet air temperature to the gas turbine compressor.
Journal Bearing The part that supports the weight of the rotating shaft during normal operation.
Labyrinth Packing A seal designed with multiple rows of (aluminum alloy) teeth located at the extremities of the bearing assemblies. Sealing air is circulated
between the shaft and the seal to prevent oil from passing the seal and spreading along the shaft.
Lagging The thermal and/or acoustic covering or enclosure.
Lifting Trunnion Extensions which are integrally cast as part of the casing and used to hold slings for lifting purposes.
Lighting Transformer A device usually associated with backfeeding the generator output of 13.8KV and reducing it to 480/V 3–phase.
Load Shaft The low pressure turbine shaft.
Load Turbine Nozzle The variable angle nozzle between the high pressure and low pressure turbine wheels on 2–shaft turbines which is to aproportion energy
distribution between the turbines.
Low Pressure Turbine The load turbine.
Lube Oil Header The main lube oil piping which feeds the turbine bearings, gears, coupling, etc.
LVDT Abbreviation for Linear Variable Differential Transformer.
Mist Eliminator A device which removes small oil droplets from the oil tank vent system prior to the discharge of the vapor in to the atmosphere.
Model Defines the gas turbine frame size.
Nozzle/Diaphragm Assembly A combination of the nozzle and the air control device between the turbine stages at the inner side wall.
Nozzle Segment A small number of nozzle partitions made as an assembly: multiple assemblies will constitute a complete nozzle assembly.
Off–Base A part which is not mounted on the accessory, turbine or generator base.
On–Base A part which is mounted on th accessory, turbine or generator base.
Outer Combustion Casing A cover that provides a pressure vessel and an air flow path.
Overspeed Bolt A spring loaded sliding rod, which is located in the accessory gear box monuted on the shaft connected to the turbine rotor, and mechanically
senses a rotor overspeed condition and generates a trip independent of the electrical overspeed protection system.
Pad Support pads located on all base mounted assemblies.
Partition The airfoil shaped stator portion of the nozzle assembly.
Peak Load The load reached at the peak exhaust temperature control setpoint (above the base load setpoint) which produces more power but reduces the life
expectancy of the turbine parts.
Peak Reserve A short term rating (seldom used) for getting maximum power, recognizing that this drastically reduces the life of the hot section turbine parts.
Platform The portion of a turbine bucket between the airfoil shape and the shank.
Plenum An enclosure which contains a volume of air (i.e. inlet) or exhaust gas (i.e. exhaust).
Power Plant A comprehensive term for the components which are contained in an integrated power system.
Pre–cooler The air cooler upstream of the main atomizing air compressor.
Pre–selected Load An adjustable, pre–designated load point between spinning reserve and base load.
Pressure Ratio The ratio of the compressor discharge pressure to the inlet pressure.
Pulsation Protection A mechanical network designed to prevent surge/pulsation during off–speed conditions of the compressor.
Pump, Centrifugal A non–positive displacement pump designed to use a rotor impeller in an enclosure as a means of transferring a fluid from one place to
another.
Pump, Gear A positive displacement pump that consists of a drive gear and driven gear mounted in a housing. The working medium travels from the
intake port around the outside of the gear to the outlet port.
Regenerative Cycle The working cycle which recovers a portion of the exhaust heat to reduce the cycle heat input required to read cycle operating
temperatures. The working medium passes through compressor, regenerator, combustor, turbine and regenerator.
Regenerator A heat exchanger used to transfer heat from the exhaust gas to the working fluid before it enters the combustor.
Rotor The rotating part of an assembly which is usually surrounded by a stator or stationary casing.
RTD Abbreviation for a Resistance Temperature Detector.
SFC Specific fuel consumption (i.e. lbs/BHP–HR) defined for a given fuel heating value.
Shaft Horsepower The power developed at the input or output shaft.
Shank The portion of a bucket between the platform and the dovetail.
Shroud A segmented part located adjacent to the blade tips which is used to limit the working fluid leakage.
Silencer A section of the inlet or exhaust of a gas turbine designed to reduce the sound level of air passing through it.
Simple Cycle A cycle where the working fluid passes directly through the compressor, combustor and turbine (without heating/cooling).
Single Shaft Turbine A gas turbine whose rotating components, (compressor and turbine) are arranged on one shaft.
Soleplates Individually grouted–in foundation plates used for mounting and supporting the pads of the gas turbine bases.
Spinning Reserve The minimum load control point based on generator output.
Stage The combination of one row of stator blades or nozzles with one row of rotor blades or buckets.
Starting Clutch The (overrunning, hydraulically positioned jaw) clutch which connects the torque converter or turning gear output to the accessory
gear box and disengages when the turbine reaches self–sustaining speed.
Starting Device The machine part used to produce adequate torque for the starting system. Some types of starting devices are:
1. Diesel Engine
2. Electric Motor
3. Steam Turbine
4. Natural Gas Expansion Turbine
5. Turbine Impingement
6. Air motor
Stator The stationary part of an assembly usually surrounding a rotating component or rotor.
Stub Shaft A hollow cylindrical section integral with the first stage compressor wheel.
Thermocouple A pair of dissimilar metals joined in series to form a closed circuit, which will generate a thermo–electric current when heated.
Thrust Bearing An active or inactive machine part which absorbs the axial thrust of the rotating shaft.
Tie Bolt A large bolt used to assemble the compressor rotor wheels.
Torque Converter A hydraulic device coupled to the turbine starting means which transfers and amplifies torque causing turbine compressor shaft
rotation during start up.
Transition Piece A thin walled duct used to conduct the combustion gases from the circular combustion chambers to the annular turbine nozzle passage.
Turbine Stage A set of stationary nozzles and one row of moving buckets mounted on a wheel. The working medium expands through the stationary nozzle to
a lower pressure causing kinetic energy to be transferred to the moving buckets.
Turbine Wheels Discs on the gas turbine shaft which are used to mount buckets on the wheel periphery.
Turning Gear The machine part which is used to break the turbine away while starting and rotate the shaft during cooldown and inspection.
Two–shaft Turbine A turbine arrangement where the high pressure and low pressure turbine stages are only coupled aerodynamically and run at different
speeds.
Valve, Pressure Regulating A valve designed for continuous automatic control of pressure.
Valve, Relief A valve that automatically maintains a maximum, predetermined pressure by discharging or bypassing the fluid in a system.
Valve, Servo A hydraulically powered valve with provisions for direct control (i.e. positioning) in direct relation with a primary control of a comparatively low level
of force. Used for proportional control.
Valve, Solenoid A valve specifically designed to control the flow of fluid by means of the magnetic action of an electric coil on a movable core or plunger, which
actuates the valve stem or pilot needle. Used for on–off control.
Valve, Temp. Regulating A self–acting valve designed for controlling the flow of fluids via a thermostatic element located in the fluid.
Vane An airfoil used to direct the flow of air or gas.
Water Removal Filter A device which removes suspended water from the lube oil.
Wheelspace Temperature The temperature of the air in close proximity to the surface of the turbine wheel below the platform surface of the turbine buckets.