Efficiency Enhancement of Gas Turbine Power Output by Cooling Inlet Air

Ayuba Salihu,Department Of Petroleum And Gas Engineering, Faculty Of Engineering, Nile University Of Nigeria, Abuja, Fct, Nigeria

doi:10.47191/ijcsrr/v5-i2-23

Ayuba Salihu, Department Of Petroleum And Gas Engineering, Faculty Of Engineering, Nile University Of Nigeria, Abuja, Fct, Nigeria

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.47191/ijcsrr/v5-i2-23

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Abstract

Electrical power generation can be achieved through many means, one of which includes using a gas turbine. Gas turbine performance is highly dependent on ambient temperature; as temperature increases gas turbine power output is lessened. This can be a huge problem in warmer regions like Nigeria. Gas turbines use the surrounding air to generate electricity and this gives rise to a method or curbing the effect of high ambient temperatures. Once the volumetric rate is constant as is the case in a gas turbine system, air density and ambient temperature are inversely proportional; this allows mass flow rate to be inversely proportional to temperature. To fully take advantage of this, there are many methods that can be implemented to achieve this cooling effect. A few of these methods were investigated in this study to determine their strengths and susceptibilities. The performance characteristics were scrutinised for a range of operational values including ambient temperature, humidity and air density. The results showed that air cooling significantly improved the power output of the gas turbine. At standard temperature of 32oc, the base case was 37.87 MW while evaporative cooler, mechanical and absorption chillers were 37.70 MW, 40.39 MW and 41.07 MW respectively.

Highlights

A gas turbine is a combustion engine that can convert natural gas or other liquid fuels to mechanical energy; this energy drives a generator that produces electrical energy, which is the electrical energy that moves along power lines to homes and businesses (Arabi et al, 2019)
Mechanical chilling method: mechanical chillers are powered by the gas turbine, they are quite similar to absorption chilling, as they are capable of cooling air regardless of its properties and composition
Air density reduces with increasing humidity as some of the heavier oxygen and nitrogen gas molecules are replaced with lighter water vapor molecules

Summary

Introduction

A gas turbine is a combustion engine that can convert natural gas or other liquid fuels to mechanical energy; this energy drives a generator that produces electrical energy, which is the electrical energy that moves along power lines to homes and businesses (Arabi et al, 2019). The gas turbine heats a mixture of air and fuel at very high temperatures, causing the turbine blades to spin. The spinning turbine drives a generator that converts the energy into electricity. In order to acclimatize gas turbines to a variety of weather conditions at full capacity, air treatment becomes a necessity. Since combustion air is taken from the turbine surroundings, ambient conditions are an important factor in gas turbine operations. Compressor work increases due to limited volume of air available as a factor of ambient temperatures (Xiaojun et al, 2010; Hou et al..2018; Cao, et al, 2017; Carcasci et al, 2017)

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