An Innovative Inlet Air Cooling System for IGCC Power Augmentation: Part I—Analysis of IGCC Plant Components

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko Morini ◽  
Mauro Venturini
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Model ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Air Separation ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Characteristic Energy ◽  
Separation Unit ◽  
Plant Components

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plants are energy systems mainly composed of a gasifier and a combined cycle power plant. Since the gasification process usually requires oxygen as the oxidant, an Air Separation Unit is also part of the plant. Moreover, a producer gas cleaning unit is always present between the gasifier and the gas turbine. With respect to Natural Gas Combined Cycles (NGCCs), IGCCs are characterized by a consistent loss in the overall plant efficiency due to the conversion of the raw fuel in the gasifier and the electrical power parasitized for fuel production which considerably reduces plant net electric power. In order to reduce this loss, synergies among the different components of the plant should be improved. In this paper, an analysis of state-of-the-art IGCC plant components is presented. Particular interest is given to characteristic energy and flow streams in order to evaluate possible synergies and optimizations. Moreover, a simulation model of an IGCC plant, built in a commercial energy system simulation environment, is set up and the influence of ambient conditions on IGCC net power output is analyzed. The suggestions gained from the current paper and the simulation model will be used in the Part II of this paper to evaluate the capability of a strategy for IGCC power augmentation, based on ASU discharged nitrogen utilization.

An Innovative Inlet Air Cooling System for IGCC Power Augmentation: Part II—Thermodynamic Analysis

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirko Morini ◽  
Michele Pinelli ◽  
Pier Ruggero Spina
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Air Separation ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Separation Unit ◽  
Gasification Process

Integrated Gasification Combined Cycles (IGCCs) are energy systems mainly composed of a gasifier and a combined cycle power plant. Since the gasification process usually requires oxygen as the oxidant, the plant also has an Air Separation Unit (ASU). Moreover, a producer gas cleaner unit is always present between the gasifier and the gas turbine. Since these plants are based on gas-steam combined cycle power plants they suffer from a reduction in performance when ambient temperature increases. In this paper, an innovative system for power augmentation in IGCC plants is presented. The system is based on gas turbine inlet air cooling by means of liquid nitrogen spray. In fact, nitrogen is a product of the ASU, but is not always exploited. In the proposed plant, the nitrogen is first chilled and liquefied and then it can be used for inlet air cooling or stored for a postponed use. This system is not characterized by the limits of water evaporative cooling (where the lower temperature is limited by air saturation) and refrigeration cooling (where the effectiveness is limited by pressure drop in the heat exchanger). A thermodynamic model of the system is built by using a commercial code for the simulation of energy conversion systems. A sensitivity analysis on the main parameters (e.g. ambient air temperature, inlet air temperature difference, etc.) is presented. Finally the model is used to study the capabilities of the system by imposing the real temperature profiles of different sites for a whole year.

Inlet Air Cooling Applied to Combined Cycle Power Plants: Influence of Site Climate and Thermal Storage Systems

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Palestra ◽  
Giovanna Barigozzi ◽  
Antonio Perdichizzi
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Parametric Analysis ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Cooling Systems

The paper presents the results of an investigation on inlet air cooling systems based on cool thermal storage, applied to combined cycle power plants. Such systems provide a significant increase of electric energy production in the peak hours; the charge of the cool thermal storage is performed instead during the night time. The inlet air cooling system also allows the plant to reduce power output dependence on ambient conditions. A 127MW combined cycle power plant operating in the Italian scenario is the object of this investigation. Two different technologies for cool thermal storage have been considered: ice harvester and stratified chilled water. To evaluate the performance of the combined cycle under different operating conditions, inlet cooling systems have been simulated with an in-house developed computational code. An economical analysis has been then performed. Different plant location sites have been considered, with the purpose to weigh up the influence of climatic conditions. Finally, a parametric analysis has been carried out in order to investigate how a variation of the thermal storage size affects the combined cycle performances and the investment profitability. It was found that both cool thermal storage technologies considered perform similarly in terms of gross extra production of energy. Despite this, the ice harvester shows higher parasitic load due to chillers consumptions. Warmer climates of the plant site resulted in a greater increase in the amount of operational hours than power output augmentation; investment profitability is different as well. Results of parametric analysis showed how important the size of inlet cooling storage may be for economical results.

Inlet Air Cooling Applied to Combined Cycle Power Plants: Influence of Site Climate and Thermal Storage Systems

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Palestra ◽  
Giovanna Barigozzi ◽  
Antonio Perdichizzi
Keyword(s):  
Power Output ◽  
Parametric Analysis ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Cooling Systems

The paper presents the results of an investigation on inlet air cooling systems based on cool thermal storage, applied to combined cycle power plants. Such systems provide a significant increase of electric energy production in the peak hours; the charge of the cool thermal storage is performed instead during night time. The inlet air cooling system also allows the plant to reduce power output dependence on ambient conditions. A 127 MW combined cycle power plant operating in the Italian scenario is the object of this investigation. Two different technologies for cool thermal storage have been considered: ice harvester and stratified chilled water. To evaluate the performance of the combined cycle under different operating conditions, inlet cooling systems have been simulated with an in-house developed computational code. An economical analysis has been then performed. Different plant location sites have been considered, with the purpose to weigh up the influence of climatic conditions. Finally, a parametric analysis has been carried out in order to investigate how a variation of the thermal storage size affects the combined cycle performances and the investment profitability. It was found that both considered cool thermal storage technologies perform similarly in terms of gross extra-production of energy. Despite to that, ice harvester shows higher parasitic load due to chillers consumptions. Warmer climates of plant site resulted to increase more the amount of operational hours than power output augmentation; investment profitability is different as well. Results of parametric analysis showed how important may be, for economical results, the size of inlet cooling storage.

Optimization of fog inlet air cooling system for combined cycle power plants using genetic algorithm

2015 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 449-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehdi A. Ehyaei ◽  
Mojtaba Tahani ◽  
Pouria Ahmadi ◽  
Mohammad Esfandiari
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Algorithm ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Air Cooling System

Development of Next Generation Gas Turbine Combined Cycle System

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Yamazaki ◽  
Yoshiaki Nishimura ◽  
Masahiro Abe ◽  
Kazumasa Takata ◽  
Satoshi Hada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Air Cooling System ◽  
Forced Air ◽  
Cooling Air

Tohoku Electric Power Company, Inc. (Tohoku-EPCO) has been adopting cutting-edge gas turbines for gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power plants to contribute for reduction of energy consumption, and making a continuous effort to study the next generation gas turbines to further improve GTCC power plants efficiency and flexibility. Tohoku-EPCO and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd (MHPS) developed “forced air cooling system” as a brand-new combustor cooling system for the next generation GTCC system in a collaborative project. The forced air cooling system can be applied to gas turbines with a turbine inlet temperature (TIT) of 1600deg.C or more by controlling the cooling air temperature and the amount of cooling air. Recently, the forced air cooling system verification test has been completed successfully at a demonstration power plant located within MHPS Takasago Works (T-point). Since the forced air cooling system has been verified, the 1650deg.C class next generation GTCC power plant with the forced air cooling system is now being developed. Final confirmation test of 1650deg.C class next generation GTCC system will be carried out in 2020.

Gas Turbine Performance Enhancement by Inlet Air Cooling and Coolant Pre-Cooling Using an Absorption Chiller

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun Min Kwon ◽  
Jeong Ho Kim ◽  
Tong Seop Kim
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Absorption Chiller ◽  
Large Power ◽  
Cycle Simulation ◽  
Standard Design

The gas turbine combined cycle is the most mature and efficient power generation system. While enhancing design performance continuously, a parallel effort to make up for the shortcomings of the gas turbine should be pursued. The most critical drawback is the large power loss in hot season when electricity demand is usually the highest. Therefore, it is important to implement an effective power boosting measure in gas turbine based power plants, especially in areas where the annual average temperature is much higher than the standard design ambient temperature. The simplest method in general is to reduce the gas turbine inlet air temperature by any means. Several schemes are commercially available, such as mechanical chilling, evaporative cooling, inlet fogging and absorption chilling. All of them have merits and demerits, either thermodynamically and economically. In this study, we focused our interest on the absorption chilling method. Theoretically, absorption chilling provides as much cooling effect (air temperature reduction) as the mechanical chilling, while electric power consumption is negligibly small. A distinct feature of an absorption chiller in contrast to a mechanical chiller is that thermal energy (heat) is needed to drive the chilling system. In this research, we propose an innovative idea of making the independent heat supply unnecessary. The new method provides simultaneous cooling of the turbine coolant and the inlet air using an absorption chiller. The inlet cooling and coolant precooling boost the gas turbine power synergistically. We predicted the system performance using cycle simulation and compared it with that of the conventional mechanical cooling system.

Comparison Between Oxygen-Blown and Air-Blown IGCC Power Plants: A Gas Turbine Perspective

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prashant S. Parulekar
Keyword(s):  
Power Plants ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
End Users ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Air Separation ◽  
Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle ◽  
Gaseous Oxygen ◽  
Separation Unit ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Integrated Gasification

The gasifier in an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) Power Plant gasifies coal using an oxidant gas that facilitates partial combustion and effective gasification of the coal feed. When electricity generation is the prime objective of the IGCC facility this oxidant can be ambient air, or gaseous oxygen produced from an Air Separation Unit (ASU). Gasification technology providers are presently divided in their type of offering and information in the public domain does not effectively guide End Users in the advantages and disadvantages of the two gasification methods as applicable to the particular project being developed. This paper highlights key design aspects that should guide End Users in making an effective assessment and perform detailed evaluation of the gasification technologies for the particular IGCC project in consideration.

GT Inlet Air Boosting and Cooling Coupled With Cold Thermal Storage in Combined Cycle Power Plants

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Palestra ◽  
Giovanna Barigozzi ◽  
Antonio Perdichizzi
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbine ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Cooling System ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Thermal Storage ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Inlet Pressure ◽  
Air Cooling ◽  
Air Cooling System

Investigation results of compressor inlet air boosting and cooling, applied to combined cycle power plants, are presented and discussed. Gas turbine performances may be reduced by site altitude and inlet losses due to air ducts and filters. Increasing inlet pressure by fans allows the restoring of gas turbine power output and efficiency at least to ISO reference conditions. Coupling such a system with inlet air cooling may completely suppress the temperature increase given by inlet air compression and the pressure losses through air coils as well; therefore, by this way, a further increase of electric energy production can be achieved. An in-house simulation code, developed for evaluating inlet air cooling system performance by cool thermal storage, has been adapted in order to also simulate off-design behaviour of boosting applied to combined cycle plants. A 127 MW reference power plant, operating in the Italian scenario, has been considered. Inlet pressure increase has been evaluated with and without inlet cooling, and in comparison with inlet cooling solution alone. Both thermodynamic and economical results have been analyzed. A parametric analysis on both system sizing parameters has been carried out. Best solution was found in coupling boosting to inlet cooling system through cool thermal storage; it produced an important increase in electric energy production. Location site influence on investment pay-back proved to be less important compared to the solution with inlet air cooling system alone.

Simple Parametric Model for Quick Assessment of IGCC Performance

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Can Gülen ◽  
Ann V. Driscoll
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Parametric Model ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Air Separation ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Separation Unit ◽  
Almost All

Even though almost all components of an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant are proven and mature technologies, the sheer number of them, the wide variety of competing technologies (e.g., gasifiers, gas clean-up systems, heat recovery options), system integration options (e.g., cryogenic air separation unit and the gas turbine) including the recent addition of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) with its own technology and integration options render fundamental IGCC performance analysis a monumental task. Almost all published studies utilize highly complex chemical process and power plant heat balance software, including commercially available packages and in-house proprietary codes. This makes an objective assessment of comparable IGCC plant designs, performance (and cost) and other perceived advantage claims (IGCC versus other technologies, too) very difficult if not impossible. This paper develops a coherent simplified parametric model based on fully physics-based grounds to be used for quick design performance assessment of a large variety of IGCC power plants with and without CCS. Technology parameters are established from complex model runs and supplemented by extensive literature search. The model is tested using published data to establish its confidence interval and is satisfactory to carry conceptual design analysis at a high level to identify promising alternatives, development areas and assess the realism in competing claims.

A System-Level Simulation Model of Poly-Generation Plant Based on Gasification Technology With Methanol and Power Generation

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Po-Chuang Chen ◽  
Hsiu-Mei Chiu ◽  
Yau-Pin Chyou ◽  
Chiou-Shia Yu
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Model ◽  
Combined Cycle ◽  
Air Separation ◽  
System Level ◽  
Generation Process ◽  
Separation Unit ◽  
Basic Case ◽  
System Level Simulation ◽  
Integrated Gasification ◽  
Gasification Technology

This study presents a system-level simulation model with the commercial chemical process simulator, Pro/II® V8.1.1, for poly-generation applications, based on gasification technology. The feedstock is coal and the products are electricity and methanol. There are five major blocks in the simulated polygeneration plant, i.e. air separation unit (ASU), gasification unit, gas clean-up unit, combined cycle, and methanol synthetic unit. The first four blocks can be combined for electricity generation, i.e. integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC). The study performs two analyses of basic case and polygeneration. The basic case is the benchmark case which is verified with the reference data from United States Environment Protection Agency. The poly-generation case is based on the basic case model, and to simulate a feasible case with actual parameters in Taiwan. The simulated outcome shows that the power output is 262.35 MW and the methanol production is 1,768.8 ton per day. The gross and net efficiency (HHV) of the integrated gasification poly-generation case are 52.75% and 46.42%, respectively. The latter is higher than the counterpart of traditional IGCC plants by over 4% points. In conclusion, integrated gasification poly-generation process provides an alternative choice to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, especially crude oil, in Taiwan.

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