Object-Oriented Approach to Determine Effectiveness of Potential Gas Turbine Power Augmentation Methods

Ambient conditions have a significant impact on the performance of gas turbines. Higher ambient temperatures correlate with decreased power output and increased heat rate. These effects are undesirable for power generation plants, especially given that energy demand is highest during hot days. To replace some of the power lost on hot days, power augmentation methods, such as inlet fogging or inlet chilling, can be used. To determine the effectiveness and return on investment of potential power augmentation methods, economic impact studies are generally conducted. Among other things, these studies require theoretical models of the power augmentation systems. An object-oriented approach seems to be the most logical approach for modeling a gas turbine with potential power augmentation systems. This approach allows numerous power augmentation models to easily be added to, evaluated with, and removed from a gas turbine model. Existing literature focuses heavily on economic studies and complicated models, and there is a lack of fundamental information on how to simulate power augmentation methods. This paper will focus on the modeling and simulation of four primary gas turbine power augmentation techniques: inlet chilling, inlet fogging, air injection, and steam injection. The fundamental calculations associated with each object are discussed. Finally, the different techniques are modeling in a GE-7FA gas turbine to demonstrate a simple power augmentation case study.