Inlet Air Cooling Methods for Gas Turbine Based Power Plants

Abstract

Background: Power generation from gas turbines is penalized by a substantial power output loss with increased ambient temperature. By cooling down the gas turbine intake air, the power output penalty can be mitigated. Method of Approach: The purpose of this paper is to review the state of the art in applications for reducing the gas turbine intake air temperature and examine the merits from integration of the different air-cooling methods in gas-turbine-based power plants. Three different intake air-cooling, methods (evaporative cooling, refrigeration cooling, and evaporative cooling of precompressed air) have been applied in two combined cycle power plants and two gas turbine plants. The calculations were performed on a yearly basis of operation, taking into account the time-varying climatic conditions. The economics from integration of the different cooling systems were calculated and compared. Results: The results have demonstrated that the highest incremental electricity generation is realized by absorption intake air-cooling. In terms of the economic performance of the investment, the evaporative cooler has the lowest total cost of incremental electricity generation and the lowest payback period (PB). Concerning the cooling method of pre-compressed air, the results show a significant gain in capacity, but the total cost of incremental electricity generation in this case is the highest. Conclusions: Because of the much higher capacity gain by an absorption chiller system, the evaporative cooler and the absorption chiller system may both be selected for boosting the performance of gas-turbine-based power plants, depending on the prevailing requirements of the plant operator.

Effect of Inlet Air Heating on Gas Turbine Efficiency under Partial Load

“…Especially in the summer, gas turbine output and efficiency both considerably decrease due to the increase in ambient temperature [2]. Air cooling technologies for gas turbine inlets are often used to improve gas turbine efficiency in gas turbine power plants, such as those in Saudi Arabia [3], Iran [4], India [5], and other countries in West Asia. At present, research on inlet air cooling technology is rich and its application is relatively mature.…”

Research on the performance improvement of a two-shaft gas turbine with a variable area nozzle power turbine

“…The corrected rotor speed and corrected mass flow of compressor are calculated using Eqs. (1) and (2). These equations can also be used to obtain the corrected parameters of turbine.…”

“…These equations can also be used to obtain the corrected parameters of turbine. (2) where N , N denote the real rotor speed and the corrected rotor speed, respectively. m , m represent the real gas mass flow and corrected gas mass flow, respectively.…”

“…However, the maximum allowable power output (MAPO) and the thermal efficiency of the gas turbine are sensitive to change in atmospheric conditions. Power output decreases by 0.5-1.2% with every 1 K rise in atmospheric temperature at ISO conditions (288.15 K and 101.3 kPa) [1][2][3][4]. Meanwhile, the thermal efficiency drops significantly.…”

Thermal Energy Storage for Gas Turbine Power Augmentation

“…o May achieve inlet temperature reduction with less power and water consumption. Ameri M. et al, 2007;Ameri M. & Hejazi S. H., 2004;Baakeem S. S. et al, 2018;Bhargava R. & Meher-Homji C. B., 2005;Boonnasa S. et al, 2006;Bracco S. et al, 2007;Chacartegui R. et al, 2008;Farzaneh-Gord M. & Deymi-Dashtebayaz M., 2011;Ferrari M. L. et al, 2016;Kakaras E. et al, 2006;Kwon H. M. et al, 2016;Kim T. S. & Ro S. T., 2000;Meher-Homji C. B. & Mee III T. R., 2000;Palestra N. et al, 2008;Sigler J. et al, 2001; control system that will combine the several technologies for the optimal solution.…”