Modified Rankine HRSG Beats Triple-Pressure System

Author(s):  
Peter Eisenkolb ◽  
Martin Pogoreutz ◽  
Hermann Halozan

Gas-fired combined cycle power plants (CCP) are presently the most efficient systems for producing electricity with fossil fuels. Gas turbines have been and are being improved remarkably during the last years; presently they achieve efficiencies of more than 38% and gas turbine outlet temperatures of up to 610°C. These high outlet temperatures require modifications and improvements of heat recovery steam generators (HRSG). Presently dual pressure HRSGs are most commonly used in combined cycle power stations. The next step seems to be the triple-pressure HRSG to be able to utilise the high gas turbine outlet temperatures efficiently and to reduce exergy losses caused by the heat transfer between exhaust gas and the steam cycle. However, such triple-pressure systems are complicated considering parallel tube bundles as well as start up operation and load changes. For that reason an attempt has been made to replace such multiple pressure systems by a modified Rankine cycle with only a single-pressure level. In the case of the same total heat transfer surfaces this innovative single-pressure system achieves approximately the same efficiency as the triple-pressure system. By optimising the heat recovery from the exhaust gas to the steam/water cycle, i.e. minimising exergy losses, the stack temperature is much higher. Increasing the heat transfer surfaces means a decrease of the stack temperature and a further improvement of the overall CCP-efficiency. Therefore one has to be aware that the proposed system offers advantages not only in the case of a foreseeable increase of gas turbine outlet temperatures but also for presently available gas turbines. Using existing highly efficient gas turbines and subcritical steam conditions, power plants with this proposed Eisenkolb Single Pressure (ESP_CCP) heat recovery steam generator achieve thermal efficiencies of about 58.7% (LHV).

Mathematics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 2191
Author(s):  
Thanh Dam Mai ◽  
Jaiyoung Ryu

The flow and heat-transfer attributes of gas turbines significantly affect the output power and overall efficiency of combined-cycle power plants. However, the high-temperature and high-pressure environment can damage the turbine blade surface, potentially resulting in failure of the power plant. Because of the elevated cost of replacing turbine blades, damaged blades are usually repaired through modification of their profile around the damage location. This study compared the effects of modifying various damage locations along the leading edge of a rotor blade on the performance of the gas turbine. We simulated five rotor blades—an undamaged blade (reference) and blades damaged on the pressure and suction sides at the top and middle. The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equation was used to investigate the compressible flow in a GE-E3 gas turbine. The results showed that the temperatures of the blade and vane surfaces with damages at the middle increased by about 0.8% and 1.2%, respectively. This causes a sudden increase in the heat transfer and thermal stress on the blade and vane surfaces, especially around the damage location. Compared with the reference case, modifications to the top-damaged blades produced a slight increase in efficiency about 2.6%, while those to the middle-damaged blades reduced the efficiency by approximately 2.2%.


Mathematics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 627
Author(s):  
Thanh Dam Mai ◽  
Jaiyoung Ryu

Gas turbines are critical components of combined-cycle power plants because they influence the power output and overall efficiency. However, gas-turbine blades are susceptible to damage when operated under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions. This reduces gas-turbine performance and increases the probability of power-plant failure. This study compares the effects of rotor-blade damage at different locations on their aerodynamic behavior and heat-transfer properties. To this end, we considered five cases: a reference case involving a normal rotor blade and one case each of damage occurring on the pressure and suction sides of the blades’ near-tip and midspan sections. We used the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equation coupled with the k − ω SST γ turbulence model to solve the problem of high-speed, high-pressure compressible flow through the GE-E3 gas-turbine model. The results reveal that the rotor-blade damage increases the heat-transfer coefficients of the blade and vane surfaces by approximately 1% and 0.5%, respectively. This, in turn, increases their thermal stresses, especially near the rotor-blade tip and around damaged locations. The four damaged-blade cases reveal an increase in the aerodynamic force acting on the blade/vane surfaces. This increases the mechanical stress on and reduces the fatigue life of the blade/vane components.


Author(s):  
Michael Welch

Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plant offer operators both environmental and economic benefits. The high efficiency achievable across a wide load range reduces both fuel costs and CO2 emissions to atmosphere. However, the scale of the power generation plays a major role in determining both cost and efficiency: a modern large centralized CCGT of 600MW output or more will have a full load efficiency in excess of 60% and a very competitive installed cost on a US$/kW basis. The smaller gas turbines required for distributed power applications are not optimized for combined cycle operation, with potential full load efficiencies of a combined cycle scheme ranging from a little over 40% to the high 50s depending on the power output of the gas turbine, the exhaust gas conditions and the plant configuration, while the installed cost is around twice that of a large centralized CCGT on a US$/kW basis. The drawback of a conventional combined cycle plant design is the need for water, which is a scarce commodity in some regions. Air cooling of the CCGT plant can be used to reduce water consumption, but make-up water will still be required for the steam system to compensate for steam losses, blowdown etc. While the lower exhaust gas temperatures of the smaller gas turbines impact the combined cycle efficiencies achievable, they do allow Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology to be considered for an alternative combined cycle configuration. This paper compares both the capital and operating costs and performance of combined cycle power plants for distributed power applications in the 30MW to 250MW power range based on conventional steam and various different ORC configurations.


Author(s):  
P. J. Dechamps

The last decade has seen remarkable improvements in industrial gas turbine size and performances. There is no doubt that the coming years are holding the promises of even more progress in these fields. As a consequence, the fuel utilization achieved by combined cycle power plants has been steadily increased. This is however also because of the developments in the heat recovery technology. Advances on the gas turbine side justify the development of new combined cycle schemes, with more advanced heat recovery capabilities. Hence, the system performance is spiralling upwards. In this paper, we look at some of the heat recovery possibilities with the newly available gas turbine engines, characterized by a high exhaust temperature, a high specific work, and the integration of some gas turbine cooling with the boiler. The schemes range from classical dual pressure systems, to triple pressure systems with reheat in supercritical steam conditions. For each system, an optimum set of variables (steam pressures, etc) is proposed. The effect of some changes on the steam cycle parameters, like increasing the steam temperatures above 570°C are also considered. Emphasis is also put on the influence of some special features or arrangements of the heat recovery steam generators, not only from a thermodynamic point of view.


Author(s):  
Sven Gunnar Sundkvist ◽  
Adrian Dahlquist ◽  
Jacek Janczewski ◽  
Mats Sjödin ◽  
Marie Bysveen ◽  
...  

A promising candidate for CO2 neutral power production is Semi-Closed Oxyfuel Combustion Combined Cycles (SCOC CC). Two alternative SCOC-CCs have been investigated both with recirculation of the Working Fluid (CO2 and H2O) but with different H2O content due to different conditions for condensation of water from the Working Fluid. The alternative with low moisture content in the re-circulated Working Fluid has shown highest thermodynamic potential and has been selected for further study. The necessity to use recirculated exhaust gas as the Working Fluid will make the design of the gas turbine quite different from a conventional gas turbine. For a combined cycle using a steam Rankine cycle as a bottoming cycle it is vital that the temperature of the exhaust gas from the Brayton cycle is well suited for steam generation that fits steam turbine live steam conditions. For oxyfuel gas turbines with a combustor outlet temperature of the same magnitude as conventional gas turbines a much higher pressure ratio is required (close to twice the ratio as for a conventional gas turbine) in order to achieve a turbine outlet temperature suitable for combined cycle. Based on input from the optimized cycle calculations a conceptual combustion system has been developed, where three different combustor feed streams can be controlled independently: the natural gas fuel, the oxidizer consisting mainly of oxygen plus some impurities, and the re-circulated Working Fluid. This gives more flexibility compared to air-based gas turbines, but introduces also some design challenges. A key issue is how to maintain high combustion efficiency over the entire load range using as little oxidizer as possible and with emissions (NOx, CO, UHC) within given constraints. Other important challenges are related to combustion stability, heat transfer and cooling, and material integrity, all of which are much affected when going from air-based to oxygen-based gas turbine combustion. Matching with existing air-based burner and combustor designs has been done in order to use as much as possible of what is proven technology today. The selected stabilization concept, heat transfer evaluation, burner and combustion chamber layout will be described. As a next step the pilot burner will be tested both at atmospheric and high pressure conditions.


Author(s):  
Meherwan P. Boyce

The performance analysis of the new generation of Gas Turbines in combined cycle operation is complex and presents new problems, which have to be addressed. The new units operate at very high turbine firing temperatures. Thus variation in this firing temperature significantly affects the performance and life of the components in the hot section of the turbine. The compressor pressure ratio is high which leads to a very narrow operation margin, thus making the turbine very susceptible to compressor fouling. The turbines are also very sensitive to backpressure exerted on them by the heat recovery steam generators. The pressure drop through the air filter also results in major deterioration of the performance of the turbine. The performance of the combined cycle is also dependent on the steam turbine performance. The steam turbine is dependent on the pressure, temperature, and flow generated in the heat recovery steam generator, which in turn is dependent on the turbine firing temperature, and the air mass flow through the gas turbine. It is obvious that the entire system is very intertwined and that deterioration of one component will lead to off-design operation of other components, which in most cases leads to overall drop in cycle efficiency. Thus, determining component performance and efficiency is the key to determining overall cycle efficiency. Thermodynamic modeling of the plant with individual component analysis is not only extremely important in optimizing the overall performance of the plant but in also determining life cycle considerations.


1995 ◽  
Vol 117 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Dechamps ◽  
N. Pirard ◽  
Ph. Mathieu

The design point performance of combined cycle power plants has been steadily increasing, because of improvements both in the gas turbine technology and in the heat recovery technology, with multiple pressure heat recovery steam generators. The concern remains, however, that combined cycle power plants, like all installations based on gas turbines, have a rapid performance degradation when the load is reduced. In particular, it is well known that the efficiency degradation of a combined cycle is more rapid than that of a classical steam plant. This paper describes a methodology that can be used to evaluate the part-load performances of combined cycle units. Some examples are presented and discussed, covering multiple pressure arrangements, incorporating supplemental firing and possibly reheat. Some emphasis is put on the additional flexibility offered by the use of supplemental firing, in conjunction with schemes comprising more than one gas turbine per steam turbine. The influence of the gas turbine controls, like the use of variable inlet guide vanes in the compressor control, is also discussed.


1998 ◽  
Vol 120 (2) ◽  
pp. 350-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Dechamps

The last decade has seen remarkable improvements in industrial gas turbine size and performances. There is no doubt that the coming years are holding the promise of even more progress in these fields. As a consequence, the fuel utilization achieved by combined cycle power plants has been steadily increased. This is, however, also because of the developments in the heat recovery technology. Advances on the gas turbine side justify the development of new combined cycle schemes, with more advanced heat recovery capabilities. Hence, the system performance is spiraling upward. In this paper, we look at some of the heat recovery possibilities with the newly available gas turbine engines, characterized by a high exhaust temperature, a high specific work, and the integration of some gas turbine cooling with the boiler. The schemes range from classical dual pressure systems, to triple pressure systems with reheat in supercritical steam conditions. For each system, an optimum set of variables (steam pressures, etc.) is proposed. The effect of some changes on the steam cycle parameters, like increasing the steam temperatures above 570°C are also considered. Emphasis is also put on the influence of some special features or arrangements of the heat recovery steam generators, not only from a thermodynamic point of view.


Author(s):  
Akber Pasha

In recent years the combined cycle has become a very attractive power plant arrangement because of its high cycle efficiency, short order-to-on-line time and flexibility in the sizing when compared to conventional steam power plants. However, optimization of the cycle and selection of combined cycle equipment has become more complex because the three major components, Gas Turbine, Heat Recovery Steam Generator and Steam Turbine, are often designed and built by different manufacturers. Heat Recovery Steam Generators are classified into two major categories — 1) Natural Circulation and 2) Forced Circulation. Both circulation designs have certain advantages, disadvantages and limitations. This paper analyzes various factors including; availability, start-up, gas turbine exhaust conditions, reliability, space requirements, etc., which are affected by the type of circulation and which in turn affect the design, price and performance of the Heat Recovery Steam Generator. Modern trends around the world are discussed and conclusions are drawn as to the best type of circulation for a Heat Recovery Steam Generator for combined cycle application.


2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 83-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Czaja ◽  
Tadeusz Chmielnak ◽  
Sebastian Lepszy

Abstract A thermodynamic and economic analysis of a GT10 gas turbine integrated with the air bottoming cycle is presented. The results are compared to commercially available combined cycle power plants based on the same gas turbine. The systems under analysis have a better chance of competing with steam bottoming cycle configurations in a small range of the power output capacity. The aim of the calculations is to determine the final cost of electricity generated by the gas turbine air bottoming cycle based on a 25 MW GT10 gas turbine with the exhaust gas mass flow rate of about 80 kg/s. The article shows the results of thermodynamic optimization of the selection of the technological structure of gas turbine air bottoming cycle and of a comparative economic analysis. Quantities are determined that have a decisive impact on the considered units profitability and competitiveness compared to the popular technology based on the steam bottoming cycle. The ultimate quantity that can be compared in the calculations is the cost of 1 MWh of electricity. It should be noted that the systems analyzed herein are power plants where electricity is the only generated product. The performed calculations do not take account of any other (potential) revenues from the sale of energy origin certificates. Keywords: Gas turbine air bottoming cycle, Air bottoming cycle, Gas turbine, GT10


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