15 KW Small Turboelectric Power Generation System

Current heavy-fuel military tactical generator sets in the 10 to 15 kw class use Diesel engines which drive low speed (3600 rpm) electrical generators. These gen sets have weight-to-power ratios that range from about 100 to 150 lbs/kw and volume-to-power ratios from about 4.0 to 5.3 ft3 per kw. In this program a preliminary design was completed for a 15 kw class dual-use, compact, light-weight portable turboelectric power gen system (designated the LTS22) with efficiency equal to the best current Army generators, a weight of approximately 100 lb (weight-to-power ratio of less than 7 lbkw) and a volume of approximately 6.2 cubic feet (volume-to-power ratio of 0.4 ft3/kw) Thus the weight and size of the LTS22 turboelectric gen set would be approximately 1/10 of today's US Army gen sets. The LTS22 generator preliminary design uses a high speed microturbine engine with an integral permanent magnet generator and electronic power controller to achieve a very light weight system. A high effectiveness, compact laminar flow (CLF) recuperator together with a low pressure-ratio turbine cycle will achieve an overall system efficiency equal to the current small diesel powered gen sets. The original document contains color images.