Performance Analysis With Different Means of Cooling in a Combined Cycle
Combined cycle based power plants and their development and application for energy efficient base load power generation necessitates enforced cooling to maintain the topping cycle gas turbine blade temperature at permissible levels, attributed to the increased turbine inlet temperature and compressor pressure ratio, for the improved performance and reliability of combined cycle. The mathematical model based on expansion path inside gas turbine considering dilution of mainstream and aerodynamic mixing losses for a range of cooling medium has been developed based on internal, film, transpiration cooling technologies and a combination of these. It is found that the appreciation of a cycle configuration as well as the optimum pressure ratio and peak temperature vary significantly with types of cooling technology adopted. Steam cooling for rotor appears to be a very potential cooling medium, when employed with an appropriate cooling technology. This paper deals with the thermodynamic analysis of turbine cooling using, different means of cooling i.e. air, water and steam.