Gas turbines are one of the most widely-used power generating technologies and can be found in everything from military tanks and aircraft to power plants. Gas turbines are often favored because they can burn a variety of fuels, are relatively compact, and can generate a lot of power. In these internal combustion engines, a pressurized mixture of air and fuel produces hot gases that spin a turbine to produce power. But in the face of growing energy needs, increasing competitive pressures, and growing regulatory and consumer pressure for cleaner, more cost-effective energy resources, power operators and turbine manufacturers are searching for ways to further improve turbine efficiency and structural performance.

Through advances in materials, manufacturing processes, combustion and engine system design, Georgia Tech researchers are helping to develop turbines with greater reliability, power ratings and efficiency levels.

Georgia Tech’s nationally-recognized centers, including the Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory, the Ben T. Zinn Combustion Laboratory, the Center for Computational Materials Design, and the Mechanical Properties Research Laboratory, balance technological innovation with practical, sustainable solutions to industry’s most pressing challenges.