Development of a Multi Design Point Optimization Framework for Gas Turbine Cycles

This thesis presents the development and validation of an in-house engine performance modeling tool, CY23, as a foundation for multi-design point optimization of aero gas turbines. While the original intent was to construct a complete optimization framework, the primary contribution of this work lies in the creation, enhancement, and rigorous verification of CY23 as a reliable platform for turbofan cycle analysis. CY23 was designed to support both design-point and off-design performance simulations, enabling students and researchers to evaluate gas turbine behavior across a range of operating conditions. A key focus of this thesis was the construction of a baseline two-spool, unmixed-flow turbofan model using GasTurb, which served as a reference for validating CY23. The comparison showed strong agreement in critical parameters such as mass flow, pressure ratio, and turbine entry temperature, while also identifying areas requiring further refinement, particularly in map scaling and solver convergence during off-design scenarios. Although limited progress was made in implementing a whole multi-design point optimization routine, the initial integration of CY23 with OpenMDAO was completed, and the framework is now structurally capable of handling mission-level fuel burn optimization tasks. This work highlights CY23's technical capabilities and the practical challenges of achieving robust optimization across multiple design points. It lays the groundwork for future enhancements, including surrogate modeling, uncertainty quantification, and expanded solver strategies, to evolve CY23 into a comprehensive research and teaching tool for gas turbine performance and optimization studies.