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MAKERS OF STATIONARY GAS TURBINES for industrial uses claim that the lubricating cost of medium‐size power units ranges between 1 and 2% of the fuel costs. Comparative figures for average Diesel engines are 5 to 10%. These savings have an effect on the total running cost economy. Detailed oil consumption figures from industrial gas turbine operators have not yet been disclosed and for similar reasons, it is not possible in this survey to discuss individual design features of all units which comprise the various lubricating systems.

A series of articles dealing, in as simple a way as possible, with the basic facts of lubrication, lubricants, their selection and prescription, specification, application, and testing. This series is primarily intended for students, engineering personnel who may be unfamiliar with certain aspects and others who, one way or another, are interested in this important subject.

This paper aims to reveal how different types of events and top management teams' (TMTs’) cognitive frames affect the generation of breakthrough innovations.

Drawing on the event system theory and upper echelon theory, this study chose a Chinese manufacturing enterprise as the case firm and conducted an exploratory single-case study to unpack how breakthrough innovation generates over time.

By conducting the in-depth case analysis, the study revealed that firms do not produce breakthrough innovation in the catch-up stage and parallel-running stage but achieve it in the leading stage. It also indicated that when facing proactive events in the catch-up stage, TMTs often adopt a contracted lens, being manifested as consistency orientation, less elastic organizational identity and narrower competitive boundaries. In addition, they tend to adopt a contracted lens when facing reactive and proactive events in the parallel-running stage. In the face of reactive and proactive events in the leading stage, they are more inclined to adopt an expanded lens, being manifested as a coexistence orientation, more elastic organizational identity and wider competitive boundaries.

First, by untangling how TMT's cognitive frame functions in breakthrough innovations, this paper provides a micro-foundation for producing breakthrough innovations and deepens the understanding of upper echelon theory by considering the cognitive dimension of TMTs. Second, by teasing out several typical events experienced by the firm, this paper is the first attempt to reveal how events affect the generation of breakthrough innovation. Third, the work extends the application of the event system theory in technological innovation. It also provides insightful implications for promoting breakthrough innovations by considering the role of proactive and reactive events a firm experiences and TMT's perceptions.

To advance the design of heat exchanged gas turbine propulsion aeroengines utilising experience gained from early development testing, and based on technologies prevailing in the 1970‐2000 time frame.

With emphasis on recuperated helicopter turboshaft engines, particularly in the 1,000 hp (746 kW) class, detailed performance analyses, parametric trade‐off studies, and overall power plant layouts, based on state‐of‐the‐art turbomachinery component efficiencies and high‐temperature heat exchanger technologies, were undertaken for several engine configuration concepts.

Using optimised cycle parameters, and the selection of a light weight tubular heat exchanger concept, an attractive engine architecture was established in which the recuperator was fully integrated with the engine structure. This resulted in a reduced overall engine weight and lower specific fuel consumption, and represented a significant advancement in technology from the modified simple‐cycle engines tested in the late 1960s.

While heat exchanged engine technology advancements were projected, there were essentially two major factors that essentially negated the continued study and development of recuperated aeroengines, namely again as mentioned in Part I, the reduced fuel consumption was not regarded as an important economic factor in an era of low‐fuel cost, and more importantly in this time frame very significant simple‐cycle engine performance advancements were made with the use of significantly higher pressure ratios and increased turbine inlet temperatures. Simply stated, recuperated variants could not compete with such a rapidly moving target.

Establishing an engine design concept in which the recuperator was an integral part of the engine structure to minimise the overall power plant weight was regarded as a technical achievement. Such an approach, together with the emergence of lighter weight recuperators of assured structural integrity, would find acceptance around the year 2000 when there was renewed interest in the use of more efficient heat exchanged variants towards the future goal of establishing “greener” aeroengines, and this is discussed in Part III of this paper.

THE Rover Co. Ltd. was associated with Air Commodore Sir Frank Whittle during the early stages of the production of the original Whittle‐type turbojet engines in 1941–42. Two of their engines were taken over by Rolls‐Royce and after further development gave rise to the well‐known Nene and Derwent engines. At the conclusion of the Second World War the Company embarked on a development programme for small gas turbine units with the eventual goal being a unit suitable for installation in a motor car. This work is well‐advanced but no date has been given as the likely time at which a production version of the gas turbine driven car will be available.

The Solar Mars gas turbine unit was recently demonstrated in operation as a fire pump and as a ground power unit for starting jet engines in aircraft. A description of a Mars auxiliary power unit in service with the U.S. Air Force was published in AIRCRAFT ENGINEERING, March 1955.

Aurora Flight Sciences and NASA is conducting a flight readiness review of the company's Perseus A drone.

This paper aims to argue for a China transmuting to fast overtake USA in innovation based on the extrapolation of past statistical trend. Case studies in self and co-innovation are provided so that the documentation of the dynamics of knowledge flows and a brain-linguistic explanation is given as to why, in the future, the Chinese are likely to lead in innovation.

This paper illustrates a multi-method approach in research for Chinese Management Studies. First, the sociological background of China is highlighted (Mao Zedong’s aphorism). Second, insights from OECD patent database are utilized. Third, the use of comparative research and development case-studies: self-innovation (Chinese) and co-innovation (contrasting Japanese versus French cooperation with Chinese). Fourth, is the inter-disciplinarily approach wherein the assimilating of knowledge is related to recent advances in brain research. Fifth, emphasizing the different levels in organizing for innovation: national (China), organizational (SOE), group processes and person-to-person, synapses within individual brains.

Statistical trend suggests that China is transforming and is on the path toward overtaking the USA in innovation. When will this happen? Using extrapolation as an indication, China may surpass the USA by the 50 per cent mark within the next decade. Insights into the processes of self-innovation and co-innovation are provided. Authors argue for a brain-linguistic explanation (Hebb, 1949) for further understanding why China will eventually lead ceteris paribus innovation, a function of the human brain.

This paper highlights on the basis of statistical trends (using OECD database) a rising, innovative China that is poised to overtake the USA in the near future. A major contribution is in providing insights of interactional processes required to foster innovation: self and co-innovation (comparing Japanese and French). The critical brain-linguistic role as the rationale as to why the Chinese are given a greater, more developed brain power that will eventually surpass the West in innovation.

This paper aims to investigate the pattern of technological capability building in the gas turbine industry as a complex product system (CoPS) in an Iranian gas turbine producer named Oil Turbo Compressor Company (OTC) and to recognize multi-level (firm, industry and national) drivers influencing technological catching up in this company.

This paper used a qualitative approach and case study research strategy. A preliminary theoretical framework is proposed based on research background. Also, the data were collected from various sources, including the interview with 11 experts, studying many documents and participating in some relevant meetings and conventions. To analyze the data, the authors relied on their preliminary theoretical framework and applied the chronological sequence analysis technique.

Our findings show that, first, in contrast with mass-produced industries where capability building pattern often leads to product innovation, technological capabilities in OTC have evolved from assembling to manufacturing, upgrading and finally redesigning of existing models of gas turbines. Second, two firm-level (proper technology acquisition strategies and building organizational and managerial capabilities), two industry-level (networking, integration and collaboration among key actors and existence of local market and demand) and two national-level (government’s policies, supports and initiatives and institutional arrangement and political conditions) drivers have played indispensable roles in facilitating and accelerating technological catching up by OTC.

Inevitably, the current research faces a few limitations. For instance, the difficulty of generalization is considered an inherent problem because it is a case study of only one Iranian latecomer company, as well as only one CoPS industry. Regarding implications, the findings suggest that technological catching up in CoPS industries in developing countries is not a simple and autonomous process and is influenced by multi-level factors, including national-, industry- and firm-level drivers.

In terms of theory, this paper tends to investigate and explain the catching-up process in OTC as an Iranian gas turbine producer by applying a multi-level theoretical framework that consists of firm-, industry- and national-level drivers. In terms of practice, this paper aims at investigating drivers affecting the catching-up process in a CoPS industry in a developing country that was faced with vast international sanctions, while many other studies in this area examined cases from developing countries such as Korea and China that had the opportunity of enjoying international collaborations and overseas knowledge flows.