Future perspectives for the gas turbine technology The EVI_GTI project developed a self-sustaining legal entity for the European gas turbine community aiming to increase EU competence in this key market sector. Industrial Technologies © DigitalVision The ever increasing environmental need for increased pollution control of engines, whether this involves emissions or noise has led to further advancements in gas turbine technology. During past decades, the Propulsion Instrumentation Working Group (PIWG) was formed in the US in order to address critical propulsion engine development test instrumentation and sensor issues. This cooperative approach offered a strong presence and focal point to the US in the international aerospace community. Following a similar approach, the European Virtual Institute for Gas Turbine Instrumentation (EVI-GTI) was established to provide a better focus on, and cohesion within the EU gas turbine sector. It constitutes a partnership of 15 organisations representing all key stakeholders of the gas turbine instrumentation community. Partners from eight different EU countries involved manufacturers, test engineering supply chain companies, major research centres, universities and end users. Having conducted a review of aero-turbine needs, comparisons were made between requirements, developments in the US and areas of technological interest. Following this, EU instrumentation requirements and priorities were specified revealing the key areas for future instrumentation development in the EU. Provision has also been made to include suitable funding means for the required developmental activities. With the aid of the Lab Gap Matrix analysis tool that was also developed by the EVI-GTI project, three key areas for R&D development within the European Community were identified. These included high temperature aerodynamic, mechanical movement and surface temperature measurements. Involvement with these activities could lead to the new generation of instrumentation for both test bed research activities and commercial exploitation.
