Abstract
The objective of this project was to develop a model of a combined-cycle power plant in Flownex which can be solved in off-design conditions in order to compare it to plant data. The verification of this model will show that Flownex can be used to effectively and efficiently model a combined-cycle power plant. The process of development of the final Flownex model was achieved using various additional software. Initially, an analytical model was developed in Mathcad (software used for engineering calculations). Thereafter, a model was built in Virtual Plant, a thermodynamic modelling software for assessing plant performance. Finally, the Flownex model was designed. For the single, double, and triple pressure combined-cycle power plant systems, the analytical, Virtual Plant and Flownex models were compared. The results of all the models agreed closely with one another. The triple-pressure design and off-design Virtual Plant and Flownex models were also compared to plant data and it was concluded that Flownex was successful in modelling the design and offdesign conditions of a combined-cycle power plant.
Highlights
Renewable energy presents itself as a solution to the downfalls of fossil fuels, these resources are only able to account for less than 10% of the world's total energy demand [1]
These plants consist of a gas turbine as the topping cycle, forming the core of the plant, and a Rankine cycle with a steam turbine as the bottoming cycle [2]
A component called the Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) forms a connection point between the two cycles. It uses the heat released from the gas turbine to produce high pressure and temperature steam to be sent to the steam turbine
Summary
Renewable energy presents itself as a solution to the downfalls of fossil fuels, these resources are only able to account for less than 10% of the world's total energy demand [1]. This statistic is not expected to change significantly in the near future. Combined-cycle power plants have the highest efficiency in the world in comparison to other power plants that operate on power grids, being between 45% and 57% [2] These plants consist of a gas turbine as the topping cycle, forming the core of the plant, and a Rankine cycle with a steam turbine as the bottoming cycle [2].
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