Dynamic performance simulation of combined gas electric and steam power plants for cruise-ferry ships

Abstract

This work aims at investigating the feasibility of COmbined Gas Electric and Steam (COGES) plants onboard Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) fueled ships, by means of a novel, flexible tool. Firstly, the nominal operating conditions of 6 commercially available gas turbines (GTs) as well as their dynamic performance are simulated. Secondly, 6 different integrated COGES-reciprocating engine power plants are assembled and compared in terms of cogeneration efficiency within an optimized repowering study for the cruise-ferry ship GNV La Suprema. The optimization accounts for variable ship speed, season and GT control strategy for an overall number of 264 operating conditions considered. Thirdly, the time-dependent performance of the best COGES plant is assessed under actual navigation conditions for La Suprema. Overall, the results show the great potential of combining COGES plants with reciprocating engines for the marine sector. In particular, in the ship speed range centered around the actual cruise speed for La Suprema (i.e. 22 knots), all the COGES plants are able to cover the propulsion and hotel power demands more efficiently than reciprocating engines, with a 1–5 % benefit on cogeneration efficiency. Overall, a 51 % maximum cogeneration efficiency is found to be provided by COGES plants based on LM2500 and TITAN250 gas turbines.