Performance Optimization of Combined Gas and Steam Power Plant using Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB)

Abstract

The ever increasing demands for higher thermal efficiency from power plants have resulted to wide range of research in this regard. This work is one of such researches that deal with the performance optimization of a COGAS plant using MATLAB. A mathematical model of the COGAS plant was developed based on thermodynamic analyses and energy balance equations. This was used to develop a program and run in MATLAB environment for analysis and Optimization of the COGAS thermal efficiency. Results show that the program simulation yielded an overall maximum operational thermal efficiency of 69.7% at about 1750K, considering metallurgical limits of the topping cycle turbine components. The resulting model could predict the optimized performance output of the system with high degree of accuracy and reliability. The novelty of this research is essentially in its methodology and will remain invaluable in future works that will focus towards improving the thermal efficiency of power plants.