Additional information
by Dietrich Eckardt (Author)
This book tells the story of the power generation gas turbine from the perspective of one of the leading companies in the field over a period of nearly 100 years, written by an engineer. Especially in times of imminent global economic crises it appears to be worthwhile to reflect on real economic values and technological leadership based on engineering ingenuity and enduring management.
Though the original edition of the book was primarily designed as a technical history of the BBC/ABB/Alstom power generation gas turbines, its scope is sufficiently broad to cover general development trends, including parallel competitor activities; correspondingly the title of this reviewed 3rd edition was adapted in a more general sense. A special benefit is the historical breakdown to the gas turbine component level, so that the book actually outlines the development of axial compressors from early beginnings based on Prandtl's wing theory, the progress in combustion technology towards extraordinary low emission values and that of axial turbines with special emphasis on early turbine cooling innovations, already in the 1930s a stroke of genius of the BBC Baden engineering team. The sheer length of certain engineering developments over several decades allows interesting historic observations and deductions on inherent business mechanisms, the effects of technology preparations and organisational consequences. A look into the mirror of the past provides revelations on the impact of far-reaching business decisions. In 2017 the book received the prestigious Engineer-Historian Award of the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers).
Author Biography
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dietrich Eckardt has more than 40 years of professional experience in turbomachinery research at DLR Cologne, in aero engine industry at MTU Aero Engines, Munich, and finally from 1995-2012 in the area of power generation gas turbines at Alstom/ ABB in Baden, Switzerland. Since 1992 he has a honorary professorship for gas turbine development at TU Dresden.
In 2013, he published 'Gas Turbine Powerhouse' about 100 years of power generation gas turbine development in English (2nd ed. 2014, present 3rd ed. 2025), here now accompanied with a first edition in German. The book received the prestigious ASME Engineer-Historian Award in 2017.
In 2023, he published a technical history book 'Jet Web' about connections in the early development history of aero gas turbines, partly influenced by power generation gas turbine developments, 1925-1950, followed by a corresponding German edition in 2024
