The history of the gas turbine for power generation can date back to the beginning of 20th century when a British engineer, Sir Frank Whittle and a German scientist, Hans von Ohain, independently developed a gas turbine for aircraft propulsion. Ever since, Gas turbines evolved into one of the world’s most complex engineering products.

The gas turbine is currently at the base of aircraft propulsion both for civil and military purposes. Besides the aviation sector, Gas turbines are widely used for electric power generation. Because of their high efficiency, reliability and ability to work with different fuels, as turbines play an important role in the renewable energy transition. At the present, the gas turbine industry is facing several challenges in the areas of emissions control, green fuels, increasing operational flexibility, maintenance, repair and others.

The Gas Turbines Minor is an HBO specialization track (30 EC) where students receive advanced lectures on gas turbines, attend guest lectures and company excursions, and perform an assignment within a company. The purpose of the minor is to provide the Dutch industry with highly skilled graduates in the gas turbine field. The minor is organized by Hogeschool Inholland together with the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Haagse Hogeschool and supported by the Dutch Gas Turbine Association (www.dgta.nl).

 

Program

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Term 1

Teaching location: Hogeschool Inholland (Delft Campus)

When: September - November

Courses

• Gas Turbine Theory (2 credits)
• Combustion & Emissions (2 credits)
• Gas Turbine Materials (2 credits)
• Company project* (5 credits)
• Guest Lectures & Company Visits ** (2 credits)

Term 2

Teaching location: Hogeschool van Amsterdam (Amstel campus)

When: November - January

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Courses

• Gas Turbine Performance (new) (3 credits)
• Gas Turbine Simulation (new) (2 credits)
• Industrial Gas Turbines (new) (2 credits)
• Gas Turbine Auxiliaries (new) (1 credit)
• Company project* (5 credits)
• Guest Lectures & Company Visits ** (2 credits)

 

 

*The students work in teams of 4 to solve a technical problem provided by a company. Companies in 2018 included KLM Engine Services, INNECS, OPRA turbines and Chromalloy.

 

** During the minor several excursions are organized to various companies in The Netherlands. During the excursions the students are given the opportunity to network and learn about the company.

During this minor, you will get in-depth knowledge on the working mechanism and technical aspects of Gas Turbines and their individual components. Furthermore, you will learn techniques for design, optimization, maintenance and simulation of gas turbines engines. During the Gas Turbines minor, both aviation and industrial applications of gas turbine engines are treated.

To enter the Gas Turbines minor, you must have the “propedeutic” diploma.  Ideally, you are a 3rd or 4th year student and you have finalized your (3rd year) internship. At Hogeschool Inholland, this program is offered to 4th year students. So the level of the courses is intermediate-advanced.

Some additional requirements:

1)      Technical background: The gas turbines minor is a highly technical program designed for students with background in aeronautical engineering, aviation, mechanical engineering or similar. Strong knowledge of mathematics (calculus, algebra, geometry), classical mechanics and thermodynamics is required.

2)      Willingness and means to travel: Attending guest lectures and company visits is compulsory. Students are expected to have sufficient means to attend. In 2018 students visited companies in Amsterdam, Tilburg, Rotterdam, Marknesse and Den Helder. Furthermore, students are expected to visit on a regular basis the company where they perform their project in order to receive feedback on their progress.

English communication skills: The Gas Turbines Minor program is taught in English. The students are expected to write reports, assignments and perform presentations in correct English.

-      Cohen, H; Rogers, GFC;  Saravanamuttoo, HIH; Straznicky PV;  Gas Turbine Theory, 

6th edition,  Pearson Education Ltd,  2009  (circa  € 70 )

This is a full-time program taking place in Terms 1 and 2 (starting in September). The first term of the minor is conducted at Hogeschool Inholland, campus Delft, while the second term of the minor takes place at the Hogeschool van Amsterdam (Amstel).

Contact hours at are on Tuesdays and Thursdays (approx. 9 hours per week). On other days, project teams will work on weekly assignments and the company project. Excursions may be on other weekdays.

The gas turbines minor is divided in modules. Credits are awarded when all the courses of the module have been completed with a passing mark. Depending on the course, your grades can be based on group assignments, a final project/presentation or a final exam.

Period 1:
4ECs: Gas Turbine Theory (Exam) and Combustion&Emmissions (Assignments)
4ECs: Maintenance (Exam) and Materials (Exam)
2ECs: Guest lectures and Company visits (Attendance and Assignments)
5ECs: Project 1 (midterm report and presentation)

Period 2:
5ECs: Gas Turbine Performance (Assignments) and gas Turbine Simulation (Assignments)
3ECs: Industrial Gas Turbines (Exam) and gas Turbine Auxiliaries (Exam)
2ECs: Guest lectures and Company visits (Attendance and Assignments)
5ECs: Project 2 (final report and presentation)