Development of a design tool for modern gas turbine combustors and commissioning of a gas turbine combustion research laboratory

In response to rising environmental concerns, Natural Resources Canada contracted the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department of Carleton University to develop a preliminary design for a 50 kW zero-emission power plant. The work presented in this thesis focuses on the microturbine combustor for this particular type of power plant.;The first major task was the development of a design tool for the design of gas turbine combustors. The design methodology is largely based on established empirical and semi-empirical correlations for conventional gas turbine combustors. The methodology was updated and supplemented by recent correlations to address the particular issues of modern lean premixed combustor. The preliminary design of a lean premixed gas turbine combustor was generated using the new design tool. The new combustor was manufactured and instrumented, and is ready for testing.;The second major task was the commissioning of a gas turbine combustion research laboratory. The laboratory was designed and constructed so that the performance of the new gas turbine combustor and the accuracy of the design tool could be evaluated at a later time.