Through Flow Flange-to-Flange Turbine and Diffuser Analysis

Author(s):  
Andrei Granovskiy ◽  
Mikhail Kostege ◽  
Vladislav Krupa ◽  
Sergey Rudenko

At the present time an important aspect of power generation in combined cycle power plants is to keep part load performance of heavy duty gas turbines sufficiently high. Therefore it is a matter of importance to ensure the aerodynamic alignment between the turbine and exhaust diffuser, allowing potential increase in both turbine efficiency and diffuser pressure recovery. The benefit of such alignment could be noticed at numerical analysis accuracy of part-load conditions in particular due to the change in gas flow angle downstream of the turbine and resulting in an incidence on the diffuser struts. This incidence, in its turn, often causes local flow separation and an associated loss increase. This paper presents an integrated approach of the turbine and diffuser aerodynamic design by means of use of a single 3D Navier-Stokes CFD model. This model explores an automatic interface between the turbine and diffuser calculation domains. Furthermore, whilst gas turbine part load performance has been improved thanks to last stage turbine blade redesign, the above-mentioned integrated turbine & diffuser numerical modelling was used as working instrument to reach the optimal solution in terms of flange-to-flange efficiency in a broad operation range. Following test results, comparison against the numerical prediction fully proved the validity of chosen analytical approach.

Author(s):  
Dieter Bohn ◽  
Robert Krewinkel

Within Collaborative Research Center 561 “Thermally Highly Loaded, Porous and Cooled Multi-Layer Systems for Combined Cycle Power Plants” at RWTH Aachen University an effusion-cooled multi-layer plate configuration with seven staggered effusion cooling holes is investigated numerically by application of a 3-D in-house fluid flow and heat transfer solver, CHTflow. The effusion-cooling is realized by finest drilled holes with a diameter of 0.2 mm that are shaped in the region of the thermal barrier coating. Oxidation studies within SFB 561 have shown that a corrosion layer of several oxides with a thickness of appoximately 20μm grows from the CMSX-4 substrate into the cooling hole. The goal of this work is to investigate the effect this has on the cooling effectiveness, which has to be quantified prior to application of this novel cooling technology in real gas turbines. In order to do this, the influence on the aerodynamics of the flow in the hole, on the hot gas flow and the cooling effectiveness on the surface and in the substrate layer are discussed. The adverse effects of corrosion on the mechanical strength are not a part of this study. A hot gas Mach-number of 0.25 and blowing ratios of approximately 0.28 and 0.48 are considered. The numerical grid contains the coolant supply (plenum), the solid body for the conjugate calculations and the main flow area on the plate. It is shown that the oxidation layer does significantly affect the flow field in the cooling holes and on the plate, but the cooling effectiveness differs only slightly from the reference case. This seems to justify modelling the holes without taking account of the oxidation.


Author(s):  
Yizhou Yan

Fuel gas for many Combined Cycle Power Plants is supplied directly by the gas provider’s regulator station in locations where the gas pipeline pressure is sufficient without further compression. Other locations require one or more onsite compressors to boost the fuel gas pressure. A rising concern is the fuel gas system transient response immediately after a significant reduction in the plant fuel gas consumption. Transient analysis models have been developed for typical fuel gas systems of combined cycle plants to ensure that the system is configured to respond appropriately to unplanned disturbances in fuel gas flow such as when a gas turbine trip occurs. Pressure control (regulator) and booster compressor control loop tuning parameters based on quantitative transient model results could be applied to set up targets for use in specifying and commissioning the fuel gas system. Case studies are presented for typical large combined cycle plants with two gas turbines taking fuel from a common plant header. This is done for designs without or with fuel gas booster compressors.


TEM Journal ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 531-539
Author(s):  
Georgi Chankov ◽  
Nikolay Hinov

The EU’s “Green Deal” plans a carbonfree energy mix, neglecting nuclear energy, despite high social costs. Photovoltaic and wind power plants lack proper solutions for storing the excessive electricity. Their EROI is still lower compared to that of conventional sources. A complementary pair of combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT) and photovoltaics is a good solution for regular electricity supplies for households at affordable prices. Such a model is based on consumption data in Ruse (Bulgaria), delivered by Nicola Mihaylov et al. It also includes data, delivered by RIS Elektro OOD – a solar park operator. Matching consumption fluctuations with production fluctuations gives the following: A 1 MW CCGT that supplies up to 1,600-1700 households is combined with a 250 kW photovoltaic park. The calculations show that because of the park the CCGT should operate with lower EROI and "green surcharge" in the consumers’ price. The optimal solution for energy deliveries requires a better balance between political, technical and economic factors.


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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Ravelli

Abstract This study takes inspiration from a previous work focused on the simulations of the Willem-Alexander Centrale (WAC) power plant located in Buggenum (the Netherlands), based on integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology, under both design and off-design conditions. These latter included co-gasification of coal and biomass, in proportions of 30:70, in three different fuel mixtures. Any drop in the energy content of the coal/biomass blend, with respect to 100% coal, translated into a reduction in gas turbine (GT) firing temperature and load, according to the guidelines of WAC testing. Since the model was found to be accurate in comparison with operational data, here attention is drawn to the GT behavior. Hence part load strategies, such as fuel-only turbine inlet temperature (TIT) control and inlet guide vane (IGV) control, were investigated with the aim of maximizing the net electric efficiency (ηel) of the whole plant. This was done for different GT models from leading manufactures on a comparable size, in the range between 190–200 MW. The influence of fuel quality on overall ηel was discussed for three binary blends, over a wide range of lower heating value (LHV), while ensuring a concentration of H2 in the syngas below the limit of 30 vol%. IGV control was found to deliver the highest IGCC ηel combined with the lowest CO2 emission intensity, when compared not only to TIT control but also to turbine exhaust temperature control, which matches the spec for the selected GT engine. Thermoflex® was used to compute mass and energy balances in a steady environment thus neglecting dynamic aspects.


Author(s):  
Andrea Ciani ◽  
John P. Wood ◽  
Anders Wickström ◽  
Geir J. Rørtveit ◽  
Rosetta Steeneveldt ◽  
...  

Abstract Today gas turbines and combined cycle power plants play an important role in power generation and in the light of increasing energy demand, their role is expected to grow alongside renewables. In addition, the volatility of renewables in generating and dispatching power entails a new focus on electricity security. This reinforces the importance of gas turbines in guaranteeing grid reliability by compensating for the intermittency of renewables. In order to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goals, power generation must be decarbonized. This is where hydrogen produced from renewables or with CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) comes into play, allowing totally CO2-free combustion. Hydrogen features the unique capability to store energy for medium to long storage cycles and hence could be used to alleviate seasonal variations of renewable power generation. The importance of hydrogen for future power generation is expected to increase due to several factors: the push for CO2-free energy production is calling for various options, all resulting in the necessity of a broader fuel flexibility, in particular accommodating hydrogen as a future fuel feeding gas turbines and combined cycle power plants. Hydrogen from methane reforming is pursued, with particular interest within energy scenarios linked with carbon capture and storage, while the increased share of renewables requires the storage of energy for which hydrogen is the best candidate. Compared to natural gas the main challenge of hydrogen combustion is its increased reactivity resulting in a decrease of engine performance for conventional premix combustion systems. The sequential combustion technology used within Ansaldo Energia’s GT36 and GT26 gas turbines provides for extra freedom in optimizing the operation concept. This sequential combustion technology enables low emission combustion at high temperatures with particularly high fuel flexibility thanks to the complementarity between its first stage, stabilized by flame propagation and its second (sequential) stage, stabilized by auto-ignition. With this concept, gas turbines are envisaged to be able to provide reliable, dispatchable, CO2-free electric power. In this paper, an overview of hydrogen production (grey, blue, and green hydrogen), transport and storage are presented targeting a CO2-free energy system based on gas turbines. A detailed description of the test infrastructure, handling of highly reactive fuels is given with specific aspects of the large amounts of hydrogen used for the full engine pressure tests. Based on the results discussed at last year’s Turbo Expo (Bothien et al. GT2019-90798), further high pressure test results are reported, demonstrating how sequential combustion with novel operational concepts is able to achieve the lowest emissions, highest fuel and operational flexibility, for very high combustor exit temperatures (H-class) with unprecedented hydrogen contents.


Author(s):  
Arthur Cohn ◽  
Mark Waters

It is important that the requirements and cycle penalties related to the cooling of high temperature turbines be thoroughly understood and accurately factored into cycle analyses and power plant systems studies. Various methods used for the cooling of high temperature gas turbines are considered and cooling effectiveness curves established for each. These methods include convection, film and transpiration cooling using compressor bleed and/or discharge air. In addition, the effects of chilling the compressor discharge cooling gas are considered. Performance is developed to demonstrate the impact of the turbine cooling schemes on the heat rate and specific power of Combined–Cycle power plants.


Author(s):  
Rolf H. Kehlhofer

In the past 15 years the combined-cycle (gas/steam turbine) power plant has come into its own in the power generation market. Today, approximately 30 000 MW of power are already installed or being built as combined-cycle units. Combined-cycle plants are therefore a proven technology, showing not only impressive thermal efficiency ratings of up to 50 percent in theory, but also proving them in practice and everyday operation (1) (2). Combined-cycle installations can be used for many purposes. They range from power plants for power generation only, to cogeneration plants for district heating or combined cycles with maximum additional firing (3). The main obstacle to further expansion of the combined cycle principle is its lack of fuel flexibility. To this day, gas turbines are still limited to gaseous or liquid fuels. This paper shows a viable way to add a cheap solid fuel, coal, to the list. The plant system in question is a 2 × 150 MW combined-cycle plant of BBC Brown Boveri with integrated coal gasification plant of British Gas/Lurgi. The main point of interest is that all the individual components of the power plant described in this paper have proven their worth commercially. It is therefore not a pilot plant but a viable commercial proposition.


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