Engine Condition Monitoring and Diagnostics

Abstract

Microturbines are energy generators whose capacity ranges from 15 to 300 kW. Their basic principle comes from open cycle gas turbines, although they present several typi‐ cal features, such as: variable speed, high speed operation, compact size, simple opera‐ bility, easy installation, low maintenance, air bearings, low NOX emissions and usually a recuperator (Hamilton, 2001). Microturbines came into the automotive market between 1950 and 1970. The first microtur‐ bines were based on gas turbine designed to be used in generators of missile launching sta‐ tions, aircraft and bus engines, among other commercial means of transport. The use of this equipment in the energy market increased between 1980 and 1990, when the demand for distributed generating technologies increased as well (LISS, 1999).