Energy-Exergy Analysis of Solarized Triple Combined Cycle Having Intercooling, Reheating and Waste Heat Utilization

Abstract

Heliostat-based solar thermal power system consisting of a combination of the Brayton cycle, Rankine cycle, and organic Rankine cycle is a potential option for harnessing solar energy for power generation. Among different options for improving the performance of solarized triple combined cycle the option of introducing intercooling and reheating in the gas turbine cycle and utilizing the waste heat for augmenting the power output needs investigation. Present study considers a solarized triple combined cycle with intercooling and reheating in gas turbines while using the heat rejected in intercooling in heat recovery vapour generator and heat recovery steam generator separately in two different arrangements. A comparison of two distinct cycle arrangements has been carried out based on Ist law and IInd law of thermodynamics with the help of thermodynamic parameters. Results show that triple combined cycle having intercooling heat used in heat recovery vapour generator offers maximum energy efficiency of 63.54% at 8 CPR & 300K ambient temperature and maximum exergetic efficiency of 38.37% at 14 CPR & 300 K. While the use of intercooling heat in heat recovery steam generator offers maximum energy and exergetic efficiency of 64.15% and 39.72% respectively at 16 CPR & 300 K ambient temperature.