Aerodynamic Performance of Gas Turbine Exhaust Diffusers
Summary
Gas turbine exhaust diffusers serve to decelerate high-velocity combustion gases and convert their kinetic energy into useful static pressure, thereby improving overall cycle efficiency and reducing exhaust noise. Their aerodynamic performance hinges on optimal shaping of the diffuser channel, the inclusion and arrangement of structural elements such as struts or guide vanes, and the interaction with upstream turbine flow features. Key challenges include managing flow separation under adverse pressure gradients, mitigating total pressure losses, and harnessing secondary flows—such as swirl or tip leakage vortices—to stabilise boundary layers. Advances in computational fluid dynamics, coupled with high-precision experimental measurements, have enabled integrated studies of turbine stage, diffuser and collector geometries. These studies support the design of diffusers that minimise irreversible losses, maximise pressure recovery and contribute to lower fuel consumption and emissions in power generation and aero-propulsion applications.
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Aerodynamic Performance of Gas Turbine Exhaust Diffusers publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in aerodynamic performance of gas turbine exhaust diffusers across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Diffuser: Component that decelerates expanding gas flow to increase static pressure.
Pressure recovery coefficient: Measure of a diffuser’s efficiency in converting kinetic energy into static pressure.
Total pressure loss: Sum of irreversible energy losses in a flow, including viscous and turbulent effects.
Boundary layer separation: Detachment of the near-wall fluid layer due to adverse pressure gradients, leading to increased losses.
Tip leakage vortex: Swirling flow formed by fluid leaking over a rotating blade tip, which can stabilise or destabilise diffuser flow.
References
- Experimental and Numerical Studies of the Aerodynamics of Stationary Two-Shaft Gas Turbine Exhaust System. Energies (2023).
- Numerical Investigation into the Effects of Design Parameters on the Flow Characteristics in a Turbine Exhaust Diffuser. Energies (2021).
- Correlation between total pressure losses of highly loaded annular diffusers and integral stage design parameters. Journal of the Global Power and Propulsion Society (2018).
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