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Lpg Gas Turbine Powering Jaguar C-X75 Concept

When Jaguar launched its C-X75 electric concept vehicle at the Paris motor show this year, it also unveiled the car’s micro gas turbine, which can run on lpg, developed by Bladon Jets, an engineering company based on the Isle of Man.

A consortium, which included Bladon Jets, Jaguar Land Rover and electrical machine company S R Drives, secured investment from the UK Technology Strategy Board to develop an ultra lightweight range extender (ULRE) for next generation electric vehicles and produce the first commercially viable gas turbine generator designed specifically for automotive applications.

The resulting range extender incorporates Bladon Jets’ patented axial flow gas turbine engine coupled to a high-speed generator using proprietary switched reluctance technology from S R Drives, which can either generate 140kW (188bhp) to charge the C-X75’s batteries and extend its range to 560 miles, or provide supplementary power directly to the electric motors on the wheels.

Bladon Jets’ patented manufacturing process produces smaller axial flow compressors and turbines down to 40mm and allows integrally bladed disks (blisks) to be manufactured in virtually any profile.

Bladon Jets co-founder and chairman Paul Barrett said: “Successful miniaturisation of the axial flow compressor has been the key to what we are doing. We’ve now got the blisk down in size to 40mm diameter, although 75mm is the optimal size for our prototype engine. “Ultimately, the axial flow design enables higher efficiencies from the compressor, and allows more stages to deliver higher pressure ratios.”

Bladon Jets believes the technology would also bring higher efficiencies to power generators, especially in combined heat and power systems. Paul said: “There’s an awful lot going on. We believe this is a really exciting technology for multiple sectors.”

Contact Bladon Jets on 01624 647068 www.bladonjets.com

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