Abstract
The European EUREKA project, EU 209, otherwise known as AGATA (Advanced GAs Turbines for Automobiles), is a program dedicated to the development of three critical ceramic components a catalytic combustor, a radial turbine wheel and a static heat exchanger for a 60 kW turbogenerator in a hybrid vehicle.
From 1987 to 1992, the study was aimed at a gas turbine with a mechanical transmission to be fitted on a standard vehicle. In order to take into account the new pollution regulations and the emission level, it was decided to work on the turbogenerator concept for hybrid vehicles. The main incentives for the use of this type of vehicle are Ultra Low Emission Level emissions with the catalytic combustor and Zero Emission Level in the electric mode.
The integration requirements and the main performance objectives focuse this program on the clean combustor for the emission levels and ceramic components in order to reach the maximum efficiency owing to high temperature.
The main difficulties for the future turbine are in fact concentrated on the development of three critical components :
The catalytic combustor
The turbine wheel
The heat exchanger
The first part of the paper describes the organisation of the AGATA.
The second part of the paper describes the aims and the technical specification :
Ultra Low Emission level
High efficiency
The third part of the paper summarises the status of the program after five years of work group (GT).
Finally, we draw up a balance sheet after five years of work and we present the future prospects for the Advanced Gas Turbine for Automobiles.