Abstract
It’s well known that the performance of a gas turbine (efficiency, heat rate and power generated) is largely dependent on mass flow rate of air, inlet air temperature and turbine inlet temperature (TIT). As turbine inlet temperature is dependent on quantity of burned fuel so that this factor is dropped out from this paper. It’s also known that gas turbines are constant volume machines i.e. at a given shaft speed they always move the same volume of air, but the power out-put of a turbine depends on the flow of mass through it. This is precisely the reason why on hot days, when air is less dense, power output falls off. A rise of one degree Centigrade temperature of inlet air decreases the power output by 1% and at the same time heat rate of the turbine also goes up. This is a matter of great concern to power producers. Many techniques have been developed to cool the inlet air to gas turbine. Some of these techniques to decrease the inlet air temperature are discussed here. The evaporative cooling technique is taken as a case study in this paper. A comparative studying is carried out between a unit using this technique and the same unit when the evaporative cooler is idle. The results advert to an increase in power output by 11.07% and a decrease in heat rate by approximately 4% when inlet air temperature drops from 50°C to 26°C.
Highlights
Electric generator power plants play a great role in developing countries
It’s known that gas turbines are constant volume machines i.e. at a given shaft speed they always move the same volume of air, but the power output of a turbine depends on the flow of mass through it
GE offers a table explains the effect of inlet air temperature on the power output and heat rate of many models of gas turbine
Summary
Electric generator power plants play a great role in developing countries. The modern techniques in generating electricity from fossil fuel are by using the so-called combined units through combined cycle. The combined cycle in Shuaiba North power plant consists of three unit gas turbine and one unit steam turbine. The performance characteristics of these units are the most important judging element. The main factors affecting unit performance characteristics are the inlet air temperature to the compressors of the gas turbine units. The research will focus on the system of inlet air cooling to a compressor of GE Gas turbine unit, 250 MW capacities as a case study
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