Professor: prof. ir. J.P. van Buijtenen.

Gas Turbines can be chosen as a specialism within Thermal Power Engineering.

Gas turbines play an important role in energy conversion processes. The gas turbine is the dominating prime mover for aircraft propulsion, while in several other application fields there is a growing interest in the gas turbine, thanks to the continuous technological developments in the design. This is, for example, the case for modern thermal power systems where through integration of gas turbine and steam turbine cycles very high efficiencies can be achieved.

In the Netherlands the application of gas turbines and the industrial activities in system design, production, maintenance and overhaul are growing rapidly.

The educational program aims at understanding the thermodynamical and aerodynamical processes in relation to the specific application. Besides gas turbine courses and courses from the Thermal Power Engineering program, a number of special courses have to be followed, dealing with high temperature materials, maintenance management etc.

The final research project mostly will be done in close coöperation with the industry or other institutions for research and development. At the beginning of the gas turbine study period, the course program is drawn up by mutual arrangement, so that specific preferences of the student can be honoured.

Because the gas turbine gives concrete form to a wide variety of disciplines - from thermodynamics to repair and mechanical design to control philosphy - it is considered to be an excellent object for a broad education.