Thermo-Economic Optimization of Hybridization Options for Solar Retrofitting of Combined-Cycle Power Plants

2013 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Pihl ◽  
James Spelling ◽  
Filip Johnsson
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Economic Optimization ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Combined Cycle Power Plant ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Conflicting Objectives

A thermo-economic optimization model of an integrated solar combined-cycle (ISCC) has been developed to evaluate the performance of an existing combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant when retrofitted with solar trough collectors. The model employs evolutionary algorithms to assess the optimal performance and cost of the power plant. To define the trade-offs required for maximizing gains and minimizing costs (and to identify ‘optimal’ hybridization schemes), two conflicting objectives were considered, namely, minimum required investment and maximum net present value (NPV). Optimization was performed for various feed-in tariff (FIT) regimes, with tariff levels that were either fixed or that varied with electricity pool prices. It was found that for the given combined-cycle power plant design, only small annual solar shares (∼1.2% annual share, 4% of installed capacity) could be achieved by retrofitting. The integrated solar combined-cycle design has optimal thermal storage capacities that are several times smaller than those of the corresponding solar-only design. Even with strong incentives to shift the load to periods in which the prices are higher, investment in storage capacity was not promoted. Nevertheless, the levelized costs of the additional solar-generated electricity are as low as 10 c€/kWh, compared to the 17–19 c€/kWh achieved for a reference, nonhybridized, “solar-only” concentrating solar power plant optimized with the same tools and cost dataset. The main reasons for the lower cost of the integrated solar combined-cycle power plant are improved solar-to-electric efficiency and the lower level of required investment in the steam cycle. The retrofitting of combined-cycle gas turbine plants to integrated solar combined-cycle plants with parabolic troughs represents a viable option to achieve relatively low-cost capacity expansion and strong knowledge building regarding concentrating solar power.

Enhancing the Economic Competitiveness of Concentrating Solar Power Plants Through an Innovative Integrated Solar-Combined Cycle With Thermal Energy Storage

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Guédez ◽  
James Spelling ◽  
Björn Laumert
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Novel Concept

The present work deals with the thermoeconomic analysis of an innovative combined power cycle consisting of a molten-salt solar tower power plant with storage supported by additional heat provided from the exhaust of a topping gas-turbine unit. A detailed dynamic model has been elaborated using an in house simulation tool that simultaneously encompasses meteorological, demand and price data. A wide range of possible designs are evaluated in order to show the trade-offs between the objectives of achieving sustainable and economically competitive designs. Results show that optimal designs of the novel concept are a promising cost-effective hybrid option that can successfully fulfill both the roles of a gas peaker plant and a baseload solar power plant in a more effective manner. Moreover, designs are also compared against conventional combined cycle gas turbine power plants and it is shown that, under specific peaking operating strategies, the innovative concept can not only perform better from an environmental standpoint but also economically.

GTPOM: Thermo-Economic Optimization of Whole Gas Turbine Plant

2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 535-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Knight ◽  
Mitsuru Obana ◽  
Christer von Wowern ◽  
Athanasios Mitakakis ◽  
Erhard Perz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Economic Optimization ◽  
Turbine Plant ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Gas Turbine Plant

Trends towards distributed power generation and the deregulation of energy markets are increasing the requirement for software tools that optimize power generation plant design and operation. In this context, this paper describes the GTPOM (thermo-economic optimization of whole gas turbine plant) European project, funded in part through the European Commission’s 5th Framework Programme, focusing on the development and demonstration of an original software tool for the thermo-economic analysis and optimization of conventional and advanced energy systems based on gas turbine plant. PSEconomy, the software tool developed during the GTPOM project, provides a thermo-economic optimization capability for advanced and more-conventional energy systems, enabling the complex trade-offs between system performance and installed costs to be determined for different operational duties and market scenarios. Furthermore, the code is capable of determining the potential benefits of innovative cycles or layout modifications to existing plants compared with current plant configurations. The economic assessment is performed through a complete through-life cycle cost analysis, which includes the total capital cost of the plant, the cost of fuel, O&M costs and the expected revenues from the sale of power and heat. The optimization process, carried out with a GA-based algorithm, is able to pursue different objective functions as specified by the User. These include system efficiency, through-life cost of electricity and through-life internal rate of return. Three case studies demonstrating the capabilities of the new tool are presented in this paper, covering a conventional combined cycle system, a biomass plant and a CO2 sequestration gas turbine cycle. The software code is now commercially available and is expected to provide significant advantages in the near and long-term development of energy cycles.

Enhancing the Economic Competitiveness of Concentrating Solar Power Plants Through an Innovative Integrated Solar-Combined Cycle With Thermal Energy Storage

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Guédez ◽  
James Spelling ◽  
Björn Laumert
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Novel Concept

The present work deals with the thermo-economic analysis of an innovative combined power cycle consisting of a molten-salt solar tower power plant with storage supported by additional heat provided from the exhaust of a topping gas-turbine unit. A detailed dynamic model has been elaborated using an in house simulation tool that simultaneously encompasses meteorological, demand and price data. A wide range of possible designs are evaluated in order to show the trade-offs between the objectives of achieving sustainable and economically competitive designs. Results show that optimal designs of the novel concept are a promising cost-effective hybrid option that can successfully fulfill both the roles of a gas peaker plant and a baseload solar power plant in a more effective manner. Moreover, designs are also compared against conventional combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plants and it is shown that, under specific peaking operating strategies (P-OSs), the innovative concept cannot only perform better from an environmental standpoint but also economically.

GTPOM: Thermo-Economic Optimization of Whole Gas Turbine Plant

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Knight ◽  
Mitsuru Obana ◽  
Christer von Wowern ◽  
Athanasios Mitakakis ◽  
Erhard Perz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Plant Design ◽  
Economic Optimization ◽  
Turbine Plant ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Gas Turbine Plant

Trends towards distributed power generation and the deregulation of energy markets are increasing the requirement for software tools that optimize power generation plant design and operation. In this context, this paper describes the GTPOM (thermo-economic optimization of whole gas turbine plant) European project, funded in part through the European Commission’s 5th Framework Programme, focusing on the development and demonstration of an original software tool for the thermo-economic analysis and optimization of conventional and advanced energy systems based on gas turbine plant. PSEconomy, the software tool developed during the GTPOM project, provides a thermo-economic optimization capability for advanced and more-conventional energy systems, enabling the complex trade-offs between system performance and installed costs to be determined for different operational duties and market scenarios. Furthermore, the code is capable of determining the potential benefits of innovative cycles or layout modifications to existing plants compared with current plant configurations. The economic assessment is performed through a complete through-life cycle cost analysis, which includes the total capital cost of the plant, the cost of fuel, O&M costs and the expected revenues from the sale of power and heat. The optimization process, carried out with a GA-based algorithm, is able to pursue different objective functions as specified by the User. These include system efficiency, through-life cost of electricity and through-life internal rate of return. Three case studies demonstrating the capabilities of the new tool are presented in this paper, covering a conventional combined cycle system, a biomass plant and a CO2 sequestration gas turbine cycle. The software code is now commercially available and is expected to provide significant advantages in the near and long-term development of energy cycles.

Steam Turbine Driving Compressor for Gas-Steam Combined Cycle Power Plant

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wancai Liu ◽  
Hui Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Power Plant ◽  
Steam Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Thermodynamic Process ◽  
Combined Cycle Power Plant ◽  
Steam Cycle

Gas turbine is widely applied in power-generation field, especially combined gas-steam cycle. In this paper, the new scheme of steam turbine driving compressor is investigated aiming at the gas-steam combined cycle power plant. Under calculating the thermodynamic process, the new scheme is compared with the scheme of conventional gas-steam combined cycle, pointing its main merits and shortcomings. At the same time, two improved schemes of steam turbine driving compressor are discussed.

Optimal Gas-Turbine Design for Hybrid Solar Power Plant Operation

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Spelling ◽  
Björn Laumert ◽  
Torsten Fransson
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solar Power ◽  
Pressure Ratio ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Electricity Cost ◽  
Conflicting Objectives ◽  
Dynamic Simulation Model ◽  
A Minor

A dynamic simulation model of a hybrid solar gas-turbine power plant has been developed, allowing determination of its thermodynamic and economic performance. In order to examine optimum gas-turbine designs for hybrid solar power plants, multi-objective thermoeconomic analysis has been performed, with two conflicting objectives: minimum levelized electricity costs and minimum specific CO2 emissions. Optimum cycle conditions: pressure-ratio, receiver temperature, turbine inlet temperature and flow rate, have been identified for a 15 MWe gas-turbine under different degrees of solarization. At moderate solar shares, the hybrid solar gas-turbine concept was shown to provide significant water and CO2 savings with only a minor increase in the levelized electricity cost.

Performance Analysis of a Combined Cycle Power Plant Through Exergetic and Environmental Indices

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgar Vicente Torres González ◽  
Raúl Lugo Leyte ◽  
Martín Salazar Pereyra ◽  
Helen Denise Lugo Méndez ◽  
Miguel Toledo Velázquez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Environmental Indices ◽  
Combined Cycle Power Plant ◽  
Combustion Gases ◽  
Combined Cycle Plant ◽  
Exergetic Analysis ◽  
Gas Turbine Power Plant

In this paper is carried out a comparison between a gas turbine power plant and a combined cycle power plant through exergetic and environmental indices in order to determine performance and sustainability aspects of a gas turbine and combined cycle plant. First of all, an exergetic analysis of the gas turbine and the combined is carried out then the exergetic and environmental indices are calculated for the gas turbine (case A) and the combined cycle (case B). The exergetic indices are exergetic efficiency, waste exergy ratio, exergy destruction factor, recoverable exergy ratio, environmental effect factor and exergetic sustainability. Besides, the environmental indices are global warming, smog formation and acid rain indices. In the case A, the two gas turbines generate 278.4 MW; whereas 415.19 MW of electricity power is generated by the combined cycle (case B). The results show that exergetic sustainability index for cases A and B are 0.02888 and 0.1058 respectively. The steam turbine cycle improves the overall efficiency, as well as, the reviewed exergetic indexes. Besides, the environmental indices of the gas turbines (case A) are lower than the combined cycle environmental indices (case B), since the combustion gases are only generated in the combustion chamber.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document