Development of Performance Deterioration Diagnosis Method for Gas Turbine Combined Cycle Power Plants

Author(s):  
Toru Takahashi ◽  
Eiichi Koda ◽  
Yoshinobu Nakao

Recently, it is more necessary to maintain or improve the thermal efficiency of actual thermal power plants to reduce CO2 emission and energy consumption in the world, and it is also important to reduce the maintenance cost of commercial thermal power plants. Thus, it is crucial to investigate power plant performance deterioration factors and solve problems related to these factors promptly when the thermal efficiency decreases. However, it is difficult to understand the internal state of power plants sufficiently and to determine power plant performance deterioration factors only from operation data because actual thermal plants are composed of many components and are very complex systems. In particular, it is more difficult to understand performance deterioration in gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power plants than in steam power plants because the performance changes markedly in GTCC power plants depending on atmospheric conditions (temperature, pressure, humidity). In other words, when thermal efficiency changes, it is difficult to determine whether the cause is the change in external factors or that in the performance of the component. Therefore, we develop a method based on heat balance analysis to calculate the immeasurable quantity of state and the efficiency of each component in GTCC power plants, and to correct the performance of each component in a plant to a standard state using the performance function obtained from long-term operation data. Through the method, the analysis of the effects of deterioration factors on thermal efficiency becomes possible, and the performance of a plant can be simulated when the operation conditions are changed. Thus, we can determine the main factor that affects thermal efficiency using our method.

Author(s):  
Washington Orlando Irrazabal Bohorquez ◽  
Joa˜o Roberto Barbosa ◽  
Luiz Augusto Horta Nogueira ◽  
Electo E. Silva Lora

The operational rules for the electricity markets in Latin America are changing at the same time that the electricity power plants are being subjected to stronger environmental restrictions, fierce competition and free market rules. This is forcing the conventional power plants owners to evaluate the operation of their power plants. Those thermal power plants were built between the 1960’s and the 1990’s. They are old and inefficient, therefore generating expensive electricity and polluting the environment. This study presents the repowering of thermal power plants based on the analysis of three basic concepts: the thermal configuration of the different technological solutions, the costs of the generated electricity and the environmental impact produced by the decrease of the pollutants generated during the electricity production. The case study for the present paper is an Ecuadorian 73 MWe power output steam power plant erected at the end of the 1970’s and has been operating continuously for over 30 years. Six repowering options are studied, focusing the increase of the installed capacity and thermal efficiency on the baseline case. Numerical simulations the seven thermal power plants are evaluated as follows: A. Modified Rankine cycle (73 MWe) with superheating and regeneration, one conventional boiler burning fuel oil and one old steam turbine. B. Fully-fired combined cycle (240 MWe) with two gas turbines burning natural gas, one recuperative boiler and one old steam turbine. C. Fully-fired combined cycle (235 MWe) with one gas turbine burning natural gas, one recuperative boiler and one old steam turbine. D. Fully-fired combined cycle (242 MWe) with one gas turbine burning natural gas, one recuperative boiler and one old steam turbine. The gas turbine has water injection in the combustion chamber. E. Fully-fired combined cycle (242 MWe) with one gas turbine burning natural gas, one recuperative boiler with supplementary burners and one old steam turbine. The gas turbine has steam injection in the combustion chamber. F. Hybrid combined cycle (235 MWe) with one gas turbine burning natural gas, one recuperative boiler with supplementary burners, one old steam boiler burning natural gas and one old steam turbine. G. Hybrid combined cycle (235 MWe) with one gas turbine burning diesel fuel, one recuperative boiler with supplementary burners, one old steam boiler burning fuel oil and one old steam turbine. All the repowering models show higher efficiency when compared with the Rankine cycle [2, 5]. The thermal cycle efficiency is improved from 28% to 50%. The generated electricity costs are reduced to about 50% when the old power plant is converted to a combined cycle one. When a Rankine cycle power plant burning fuel oil is modified to combined cycle burning natural gas, the CO2 specific emissions by kWh are reduced by about 40%. It is concluded that upgrading older thermal power plants is often a cost-effective method for increasing the power output, improving efficiency and reducing emissions [2, 7].


Author(s):  
T. Mita ◽  
N. Ando ◽  
A. Kawauchi ◽  
K. Morikawa

A fully-fired combined cycle power plant (FFCCPP) combines a steam thermal power plant with a gas turbine. Hot exhaust gases fed from the gas turbine are used as combustion air for the boiler, thus increasing total plant output and efficiency. An unusually hot spell in Japan in the summer of 1990 brought about such a rapid surge in power demand for air conditioning so that all electric power companies registered record highs in consumption. This promoted Chubu Electric Power Co. to decide to add a 154-MW gas turbine to each of its six existing steam thermal power plants (four 700-MW and two 375-MW units), thus repowering their system into an FFCCPP. Construction work began in 1992. In September, 1994, two 700-MW steam thermal power plants (Chita Thermal Power Plant’s No. 6 unit and Chita Second Thermal Power Plant’s No. 1 unit) were modified into FFCCPPs, which then began operating in a trouble-free manner. This paper reports the characteristics and test-run results of the above two plants, which have been operating in good condition as the largest-capacity FFCCPPs in the world.


Author(s):  
Alcides Codeceira Neto ◽  
Pericles Pilidis ◽  
Anestis I. Kalfas

The Performance assessment of power plants involves a large number of equations with many variables taking part in the whole calculation. The assessment method described here takes into account a process for optimising a conventional gas turbine combined cycle power plant from the point of view of power plant performance calculations and economic analysis. The process requires optimisation of the whole thermal power plant based on cost considerations. The performance assessment of power plants uses the exergy method and considers the overall plant exergetic efficiency and the exergy destruction in the various components of the plant. The exergy method highlights irreversibility within plant components, and it is of particular interest in this investigation. Generally, the optimisation procedure to determine an optimal solution for a problem considers constraints imposed to some variables and requires the use of an optimisation technique. This paper is precisely concerned with the use of Genetic Algorithms (GAs) as a recommended tool for applying the optimisation process of the whole power plant based on minimising costs of products. Genetic Algorithms (GAs) are adaptive methods which may be used to solve search and optimisation problems. They are based on the genetic processes of biological organisms and do not require complicated mathematical calculations like the evaluation of derivatives necessary to be considered in conventional optimisation techniques.


Author(s):  
Stephan Heide ◽  
Christian Felsmann ◽  
Uwe Gampe ◽  
Sven Boje ◽  
Bernd Gericke ◽  
...  

Existing solar thermal power plants are based on steam turbine cycles. While their process temperature is limited, solar gas turbine (GT) systems provide the opportunity to utilize solar heat at a much higher temperature. Therefore there is potential to improve the efficiency of future solar thermal power plants. Solar based heat input to substitute fuel requires specific GT features. Currently the portfolio of available GTs with these features is restricted. Only small capacity research plants are in service or in planning. Process layout and technology studies for high solar share GT systems have been carried out and have already been reported by the authors. While these investigations are based on a commercial 10MW class GT, this paper addresses the parameterization of high solar share GT systems and is not restricted to any type of commercial GT. Three configurations of solar hybrid GT cycles are analyzed. Besides recuperated and simple GT with bottoming Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), a conventional combined cycle is considered. The study addresses the GT parameterization. Therefore parametric process models are used for simulation. Maximum electrical efficiency and associated optimum compressor pressure ratio πC are derived at design conditions. The pressure losses of the additional solar components of solar hybrid GTs have a different adversely effect on the investigated systems. Further aspects like high ambient temperature, availability of water and influence of compressor pressure level on component design are discussed as well. The present study is part of the R&D project Hybrid High Solar Share Gas Turbine Systems (HYGATE) which is funded by the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature and Nuclear Safety and the Ministry of Economics and Technology.


Author(s):  
S. Can Gülen ◽  
Indrajit Mazumder

Cost of electricity (COE) is the most widely used metric to quantify the cost-performance trade-off involved in comparative analysis of competing electric power generation technologies. Unfortunately, the currently accepted formulation of COE is only applicable to comparisons of power plant options with the same annual electric generation (kilowatt-hours) and the same technology as defined by reliability, availability, and operability. Such a formulation does not introduce a big error into the COE analysis when the objective is simply to compare two or more base-loaded power plants of the same technology (e.g., natural gas fired gas turbine simple or combined cycle, coal fired conventional boiler steam turbine, etc.) and the same (or nearly the same) capacity. However, comparing even the same technology class power plants, especially highly flexible advanced gas turbine combined cycle units with cyclic duties, comprising a high number of daily starts and stops in addition to emissions-compliant low-load operation to accommodate the intermittent and uncertain load regimes of renewable power generation (mainly wind and solar) requires a significant overhaul of the basic COE formula. This paper develops an expanded COE formulation by incorporating crucial power plant operability and maintainability characteristics such as reliability, unrecoverable degradation, and maintenance factors as well as emissions into the mix. The core impact of duty cycle on the plant performance is handled via effective output and efficiency utilizing basic performance correction curves. The impact of plant start and load ramps on the effective performance parameters is included. Differences in reliability and total annual energy generation are handled via energy and capacity replacement terms. The resulting expanded formula, while rigorous in development and content, is still simple enough for most feasibility study type of applications. Sample calculations clearly reveal that inclusion (or omission) of one or more of these factors in the COE evaluation, however, can dramatically swing the answer from one extreme to the other in some cases.


Author(s):  
S. Can Gu¨len

Increasing the thermal efficiency of fossil fuel fired power plants in general and the gas turbine power plant in particular is of extreme importance. In the face of diminishing natural resources and increasing carbon emissions that lead to a heightened greenhouse effect and greater concerns over global warming, thermal efficiency is more critical today than ever before. In the science of thermodynamics, the best yardstick for a power generation system’s performance is the Carnot efficiency — the ultimate efficiency limit, set by the second law, which can be achieved only by a perfect heat engine operating in a cycle. As a fact of nature this upper theoretical limit is out of reach, thus engineers usually set their eyes on more realistic goals. For the longest time, the key performance benchmark of a combined cycle (CC) power plant has been the 60% net electric efficiency. Land-based gas turbines based on the classic Brayton cycle with constant pressure heat addition represent the pinnacle of fossil fuel burning power generation engineering. Advances in the last few decades, mainly driven by the increase in cycle maximum temperatures, which in turn are made possible by technology breakthroughs in hot gas path materials, coating and cooling technologies, pushed the power plant efficiencies to nearly 40% in simple cycle and nearly 60% in combined cycle configurations. To surpass the limitations imposed by available materials and other design considerations and to facilitate a significant improvement in the thermal efficiency of advanced Brayton cycle gas turbine power plants necessitate a rethinking of the basic thermodynamic cycle. The current paper highlights the key thermodynamic considerations that make the constant volume heat addition a viable candidate in this respect. First using fundamental air-standard cycle formulas and then more realistic but simple models, potential efficiency improvement in simple and combined cycle configurations is investigated. Existing and past research activities are summarized to illustrate the technologies that can transform the basic thermodynamics into a reality via mechanically and economically feasible products.


2020 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 03023
Author(s):  
Mikhail Sinkevich ◽  
Anatoliy Kosoy ◽  
Oleg Popel

Nowadays, alternative thermodynamic cycles are actively studied. They allow to remove CO2, formed as a result of fuel combustion, from a cycle without significant energy costs. Calculations have shown that such cycles may meet or exceed the most advanced power plants in terms of heat efficiency. The Allam cycle is recognized as one of the best alternative cycles for the production of electricity. Nevertheless, a cycle of compressorless combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) unit is seemed more promising for cogeneration of electricity and heat. A comparative analysis of the thermal efficiency of these two cycles was performed. Particular attention was paid to ensuring equal conditions for comparison. The cycle of compressorless CCGT unit was as close as possible to the Allam cycle due to the choice of parameters. The processes, in which the difference remained, were analysed. Thereafter, an analysis of how close the parameters, adopted for comparison, to optimal for the compressorless CCGT unit cycle was made. This analysis showed that these two cycles are quite close only for the production of electricity. The Allam cycle has some superiority but not indisputable. However, if cogeneration of electricity and heat is considered, the thermal efficiency of the cycle of compressorless CCGT unit will be significantly higher. Since it allows to independently regulate a number of parameters, on which the electric power, the ratio of electric and thermal power, the temperature of a working fluid at the turbine inlet depend. Thus, the optimal parameters of the thermodynamic cycle can be obtained in a wide range of operating modes of the unit with different ratios of thermal and eclectic powers. Therefore, the compressorless CCGT unit can significantly surpass the best steam turbine and combined cycle gas turbine plants in district heating system in terms of thermal efficiency.


Author(s):  
W. Peter Sarnacki ◽  
Richard Kimball ◽  
Barbara Fleck

The integration of micro turbine engines into the engineering programs offered at Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) has created a dynamic, hands-on approach to learning the theoretical and operational characteristics of a turbojet engine. Maine Maritime Academy is a fully accredited college of Engineering, Science and International Business located on the coast of Maine and has over 850 undergraduate students. The majority of the students are enrolled in one of five majors offered at the college in the Engineering Department. MMA already utilizes gas turbines and steam plants as part of the core engineering training with fully operational turbines and steam plant laboratories. As background, this paper will overview the unique hands-on nature of the engineering programs offered at the institution with a focus of implementation of a micro gas turbine trainer into all engineering majors taught at the college. The training demonstrates the effectiveness of a working gas turbine to translate theory into practical applications and real world conditions found in the operation of a combustion turbine. This paper presents the efforts of developing a combined cycle power plant for training engineers in the operation and performance of such a plant. Combined cycle power plants are common in the power industry due to their high thermal efficiencies. As gas turbines/electric power plants become implemented into marine applications, it is expected that combined cycle plants will follow. Maine Maritime Academy has a focus on training engineers for the marine and stationary power industry. The trainer described in this paper is intended to prepare engineers in the design and operation of this type of plant, as well as serve as a research platform for operational and technical study in plant performance. This work describes efforts to combine these laboratory resources into an operating combined cycle plant. Specifically, we present efforts to integrate a commercially available, 65 kW gas turbine generator system with our existing steam plant. The paper reviews the design and analysis of the system to produce a 78 kW power plant that approaches 35% thermal efficiency. The functional operation of the plant as a trainer is presented as the plant is designed to operate with the same basic functionality and control as a larger commercial plant.


Author(s):  
A. I. Zwebek ◽  
P. Pilidis

This paper presents an investigation of the degradation effects that gas and steam turbine cycles components have on combined cycle (CCGT) power plant performance. Gas turbine component degradation effects were assessed with TurboMatch, the Cranfield Gas Turbine simulation code. A new code was developed to assess bottoming cycle performance deterioration. The two codes were then joined to simulate the combined cycle performance deterioration as a whole unit. Areas examined were gas turbine compressor and turbine degradation, HRSG degradation, steam turbine degradation, condenser degradation, and increased gas turbine back-pressure due to HRSG degradation. The procedure, assumptions made, and the results obtained are presented and discussed. The parameters that appear to have the greatest influence on degradation are the effects on the gas generator.


Author(s):  
Richard P. Johnston

Potential LHV performance of an indirect coal-fired gas turbine-based combined cycle plant is explored and compared to the typical LHV 35–38 % thermal efficiencies achievable with current coal-fired Rankine Cycle power plants. Plant performance with a baseline synchronous speed, single spool 25:1 pressure ratio gas turbine with a Rankine bottoming cycle was developed. A coal-fired High Temperature Advanced Furnace (HITAF) supplying 2000° F. (1093° C.) hot pressurized air for the gas turbine was modeled for the heat source. The HITAF concept along with coal gas for supplemental heating, are two important parts of the clean coal technology program for power plants. [1,2] From this baseline power plant arrangement, different gas turbine engine configurations with two pressure ratios are evaluated. These variations include a dual spool concentric shaft gas turbine, dual spool non-concentric shaft arrangement, intercooler, liquid metal loop re-heater, free power turbine (FPT) and post HITAF duct burner (DB). A dual pressure Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) with varying steam pressures to fit conditions is used for each engine. A novel steam generating method employing flash tank technology is applied when a water-cooled intercooler is incorporated. A halogenated hydrocarbon working fluid is also evaluated for lower temperature sub-bottoming Rankine cycle equipment. Current technology industrial gas turbine component performance levels are applied to these various engines to produce a range of LHV gross gas turbine thermal efficiency estimates. These estimates range from the lower thirties to over forty percent. Overall LHV combined cycle plant gross thermal efficiencies range from nearly forty to over fifty percent. All arrangements studied would produce significant improvements in thermal efficiency compared to current coal-fired Rankine cycle power plants. Regenerative inter-cooling, free power turbines, and dual-spool non-concentric shaft gas turbine arrangements coupled with post-HITAF duct burners produced the highest gas turbine engine and plant efficiency results. These advanced engine configurations should also produce operational benefits such as easier starting and much improved part power efficiency over the baseline engine arrangement. An inter-turbine liquid metal re-heat loop reduced engine thermal efficiency but did increase plant power output and efficiency for the example studied. Use of halogenated hydrocarbons as a working fluid would add to plant power output, but at the cost of significant additional plant equipment.


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