Design Optimization and Dynamic Simulation of Steam Cycle Power Plants: A Review

After more than one century from its first use for electric power production, steam cycles are still the object of continuous research and development efforts worldwide. Indeed, owing to its favorable thermodynamic properties, steam cycles are not only used in coal-fired power plants but in a large variety of applications such as combined cycles, concentrated solar power plants and polygeneration plants. On the other hand, to cope with the efficiency and flexibility requirements set by today’s energy markets, the design and the operation of steam cycles must be carefully optimized. A key rule is played by the simulation and optimization codes developed in the last 30 years. This paper provides an introduction to the main types of simulation and optimization problems (design, off-design operation and dynamic), an overview of the mathematical background (possible solution approaches, numerical methods and available software), and a review of the main scientific contributions.

A Novel Electricity and Freshwater Production System: Performance Analysis from Reliability and Exergoeconomic Viewpoints with Multi-Objective Optimization

Based on the benefits of integrated gasification combined cycles (IGCCs), a cogeneration plant for providing electricity and freshwater is proposed. The main novelties of the devised system are the integration of biomass gasification and a regenerative gas turbine with intercooling and a syngas combustor, where the syngas produced in the gasifier is burned in the combustion chamber and fed to a gas turbine directly. The energy discharged from the gas turbine is utilized for further electricity and freshwater generation via Kalina and MED hybridization. The proposed system is analyzed from energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and reliability–availability viewpoints. The optimal operating condition and optimum performance criteria are obtained by hybridizing an artificial neural network (ANN), the multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm. According to results obtained, for the fourth scenario of the optimization process, optimal values ​​of , , , and are obtained for the exergy efficiency, freshwater production rate, sum unit cost of products, and net output power, respectively. According to reliability and availability assessment, the probability of the healthy working state of all components and subsystems is the system is shown to be available of the time over the 20-year lifetime.

Prospects for the development of hydrogen power engineering in Tatarstan

PURPOSE. Consider the problems and ways of developing hydrogen energy in Russia and in the Republic of Tatarstan. Analyze the main opportunities for the production, transportation, use of hydrogen at the enterprises of Tatarstan. Calculate the economic efficiency of the production of "green" hydrogen by electrolysis at TPP with CCGT in Tatarstan. METHODS. Based on the analysis of literature data and mathematical calculations. RESULTS. Green hydrogen is a promising solution for a decarbonized energy system, and 2020 saw an explosive focus on its use around the world. Tatarstan, as one of the leading economically developed regions of Russia, could take part in the production of "green" hydrogen, the design of electrochemical equipment for its production, the development of technologies for the use of fuel cells, scientific research and training of highly qualified specialists in the field of hydrogen energy. According to the calculations, the production of the most environmentally friendly hydrogen at TPPs with CCGT in Tatarstan will currently cost an average of 2 euros per kilogram, which is significantly lower than the existing market value. CONCLUSION. Tatarstan can become a competitive region for the production and distribution of "green" hydrogen. The main areas of activity should be the production of pure hydrogen, the industrial production of freight transport on fuel cells, the production of megawatt-class electrolysers, the utilization of hydrogen-containing petroleum gases at TPPs in gas turbines or combined cycles with fuel cells.