ETHANOL UTILISATION IN THE GE T-58 TURBINE APPLIED TO ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION

The General Eletric T58 engine is a free-shaft axial flow gas turbine. It was designed to power jet helicopters in the 50s. Since then,it has been used in a number of military helicopter aplications such as the tandem rotor CH-46 Sea Kinght. After more than 50 year sit is clear that there are several T58 out of service. Sometimes, these engines are still in good condition considering land-based operation. Flight safety demands are much more restrit. On other hand, ethanol seems to have an important role considering CO2 emission balance. This work presents the potentiality of ethanol utilisation as fuel in aeronautics turbine engines out of service for the purpose of generating eletric power. Experimental prelimanary tests indicated economic viability and it was also estimated power turbine operation up to 18,000 hours until the first maitanence. . This is one indicative of the high reliability of the aeronautics engines. Whole experimental tests were conducted in the Gespi Aeronautics Ltda and more details will be presented here.