Which factors significantly influence gas turbine thermal efficiency?

Gas turbine thermal efficiency is fundamentally influenced by the pressure ratio, temperature, and specific fuel consumption.

The pressure ratio refers to the ratio of the pressure of the air entering the turbine to the pressure of the air exiting the compressor. A higher pressure ratio generally improves efficiency, as it allows for a greater expansion of the gases in the turbine, resulting in more work being extracted from the combustion process.

Temperature is another critical factor; specifically, the inlet temperature of the turbine. A higher inlet temperature means that the gas turbine can extract more energy from the hot gases produced by combustion, which increases overall efficiency. This is why gas turbines are often designed to operate with advanced materials and cooling techniques to withstand higher temperatures.

Specific fuel consumption is a measure of the fuel efficiency of the engine, usually quantified in pounds of fuel consumed per hour per unit of thrust produced. Lower specific fuel consumption signifies a more efficient engine, which directly correlates with overall thermal efficiency, as it means more energy is extracted from the same amount of fuel burned.

These elements work together to maximize the thermal efficiency of a gas turbine engine, making the first choice the correct one in the context of factors that significantly influence gas turbine performance. The other options, while they contain relevant factors for gas