Periodic Reporting for period 2 - NextMGT (Next Generation of Micro Gas Turbines for High Efficiency, Low Emissions and Fuel Flexibility)
Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2024-12-31
Gas turbines are prime movers based on the Brayton thermodynamic cycle where the working fluid is compressed, thermal energy is then added, before expansion in a turbine to produce power to drive the compressor and produce useful shaft power. The term micro gas turbine (MGT) refers to units producing shaft power below about 500 kW. MGTs can achieve high power density and efficiency, and have the advantage of better fuel and operational flexibility compared to other prime movers of similar power rating. They require less maintenance, and the noise level brought about by combustion is lower and easier to attenuate than in competing technologies. Despite previous research and development, MGTs still have a low market share. Full technical potential has not been achieved due to insufficient investment in research and development and the absence of suitable coordination and innovation sharing mechanisms among stakeholders.
This project aimed at the development of the technical expertise and scientific knowledge that would enable a significantly improved understanding of the fundamental design and operational aspects of MGT technology which involves the development of analytical and numerical multi-physics models that will be validated using experimental data to enable a significantly improved understanding of the fundamental design and operational aspects. Component level technology and their integration in an optimal manner would be addressed. An insight into the main features of the incipient MGT community and the existing structures for collaborative research and technology transfer between research institutions and industry would provide valuable information to pave the way to establishing an important European industry. This would lead the way in distributed power generation and link to renewables utilisation.
The overall objective of NextMGT was to develop a multidisciplinary training and research programme, aimed at the development of technical expertise and scientific knowledge, which would boost understanding of the fundamental design and operational aspects of MGT technology. To be more specific:
1. To examine cycle innovations required to achieve high overall MGT efficiency to match other prime movers of similar power range and develop advanced methods to optimise micro gas turbine systems for several applications based on a standard core technology as well as smart integration with energy systems.
2. To investigate advanced combustion technologies for achieving low emissions and fuel flexibility including biofuels in solid, liquid and gaseous forms and combustible industrial residues.
3. To develop innovative methods to enhance aerodynamic, mechanical and electrical aspects of MGTs and utilisation of new materials and to develop suitable storage systems to enable effective off-grid operation.
4. To investigate measures to commercialisation of the technology focusing on dependence of innovation and industry growth on intellectual/industrial property management, energy policy and regulatory framework and standardisation requirements.
5. Training of the Early-Stage Researchers:
6. Communications, Disseminations and Public Engagement
This project aimed at the development of the technical expertise and scientific knowledge that would enable a significantly improved understanding of the fundamental design and operational aspects of MGT technology which involves the development of analytical and numerical multi-physics models that will be validated using experimental data to enable a significantly improved understanding of the fundamental design and operational aspects. Component level technology and their integration in an optimal manner would be addressed. An insight into the main features of the incipient MGT community and the existing structures for collaborative research and technology transfer between research institutions and industry would provide valuable information to pave the way to establishing an important European industry. This would lead the way in distributed power generation and link to renewables utilisation.
The overall objective of NextMGT was to develop a multidisciplinary training and research programme, aimed at the development of technical expertise and scientific knowledge, which would boost understanding of the fundamental design and operational aspects of MGT technology. To be more specific:
1. To examine cycle innovations required to achieve high overall MGT efficiency to match other prime movers of similar power range and develop advanced methods to optimise micro gas turbine systems for several applications based on a standard core technology as well as smart integration with energy systems.
2. To investigate advanced combustion technologies for achieving low emissions and fuel flexibility including biofuels in solid, liquid and gaseous forms and combustible industrial residues.
3. To develop innovative methods to enhance aerodynamic, mechanical and electrical aspects of MGTs and utilisation of new materials and to develop suitable storage systems to enable effective off-grid operation.
4. To investigate measures to commercialisation of the technology focusing on dependence of innovation and industry growth on intellectual/industrial property management, energy policy and regulatory framework and standardisation requirements.
5. Training of the Early-Stage Researchers:
6. Communications, Disseminations and Public Engagement
• All 'Deliverables' accomplished and reported.
• 8 major networkwide training events delivered in the form of winter/summer school, that especially designed for the ESRs for their professional and personal development. The events ranged in topics from combustion to commercialisation to power systems modelling, component design and energy cultures. The last event was a conference (4th European Micro Gas Turbine Forum Symposium). It was to gather and share invaluable experiences, with Keynote speeches from leading international speakers from academia and industry, which then led on to a panel discussion by other speakers and concluded with a networking reception.
In its 4th iteration, the symposium hosted the final scientific event of the “Next Generation of Micro Gas Turbines for High Efficiency, Low Emissions and Fuel Flexibility” NextMGT project. 15 Early-Stage Researchers presented project results and plans from a Pan-European Perspective on the second full day.
• ESRs have completed 73.3% of all proposed secondments. Some secondments cancelled due to delays in recruitment, Pandemic setbacks
• 9 PhD theses completed and 4 more due to be completed in 2025.
• The project has demonstrated a high level of disseminations.
• 8 major networkwide training events delivered in the form of winter/summer school, that especially designed for the ESRs for their professional and personal development. The events ranged in topics from combustion to commercialisation to power systems modelling, component design and energy cultures. The last event was a conference (4th European Micro Gas Turbine Forum Symposium). It was to gather and share invaluable experiences, with Keynote speeches from leading international speakers from academia and industry, which then led on to a panel discussion by other speakers and concluded with a networking reception.
In its 4th iteration, the symposium hosted the final scientific event of the “Next Generation of Micro Gas Turbines for High Efficiency, Low Emissions and Fuel Flexibility” NextMGT project. 15 Early-Stage Researchers presented project results and plans from a Pan-European Perspective on the second full day.
• ESRs have completed 73.3% of all proposed secondments. Some secondments cancelled due to delays in recruitment, Pandemic setbacks
• 9 PhD theses completed and 4 more due to be completed in 2025.
• The project has demonstrated a high level of disseminations.
The challenges faced by the MGT technology are grouped in two categories. (1) Technical, mainly related to design point and part-load efficiency, fuel-flexibility, high-temperature operation, system integration and control, and power electronics. (2) Commercial: the stakeholders in Europe are scattered and do not take advantage of economies of scale arising from joint developments. They also do not exploit the evident synergies with closely related industries such as the turbocharger industry (except for using parts), and large gas turbines for propulsion and power. To a large extent, this is also due to the lack of well-established, agile intellectual property management schemes whereby technology transfer could flow fluently between industry and R&D institutions, to give way to the mentioned economies of scale. There is also a need to understand and probably influence changes to energy policy and regulatory frameworks, for example to support the low Nitric Oxides Emissions characteristics of MGTs.
The outcome of project has:
(1) technological/ economical/ societal impact on the scientific fields and also on the public, and
(2) individual impact on the ESRs’ employability and development
The impact on the scientific fields and also on the public was achieved through the below actions over the course of NextMGT:
• Research output that has been disseminated widely through a well-defined plan. To this end, the project outcome and results were disseminated through the following means:
- 55 scientific publications,
- 7 public reports,
- participation in one white paper on the decentralised power generation with focus on MGTs
• Fifteen highly trained ESRs ready to join a workforce the implements the EU principles including clean affordable and secure energy through increased innovation capacity.
• The wide-ranging involvement of industry and the commercial dimension of the programme will facilitate bringing ideas to market.
• NextMGT outcome on the policy side made a clear emphasis and link to EU research/policy goals e.g. Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges or Industrial Leadership Pillar, Research Roadmaps, EU sectoral policies
Further, the project has a clear and positive impact on the ESRs’ employability and development. The aim of this project is to contribute to the EU agenda on the European Research Area by training “a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative early-stage researchers”, who can face future challenges and to “convert knowledge and ideas into products and services for economic and social benefit”. In addition, support to and compliance with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been at the heart of the training of ESRs and the scientific and economic outcomes of this research. This has been achieved through the extensive nature of the training programme offered to the ESRs.
The outcome of project has:
(1) technological/ economical/ societal impact on the scientific fields and also on the public, and
(2) individual impact on the ESRs’ employability and development
The impact on the scientific fields and also on the public was achieved through the below actions over the course of NextMGT:
• Research output that has been disseminated widely through a well-defined plan. To this end, the project outcome and results were disseminated through the following means:
- 55 scientific publications,
- 7 public reports,
- participation in one white paper on the decentralised power generation with focus on MGTs
• Fifteen highly trained ESRs ready to join a workforce the implements the EU principles including clean affordable and secure energy through increased innovation capacity.
• The wide-ranging involvement of industry and the commercial dimension of the programme will facilitate bringing ideas to market.
• NextMGT outcome on the policy side made a clear emphasis and link to EU research/policy goals e.g. Horizon 2020 Societal Challenges or Industrial Leadership Pillar, Research Roadmaps, EU sectoral policies
Further, the project has a clear and positive impact on the ESRs’ employability and development. The aim of this project is to contribute to the EU agenda on the European Research Area by training “a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative early-stage researchers”, who can face future challenges and to “convert knowledge and ideas into products and services for economic and social benefit”. In addition, support to and compliance with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been at the heart of the training of ESRs and the scientific and economic outcomes of this research. This has been achieved through the extensive nature of the training programme offered to the ESRs.