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Gas Turbine Thermal Power Plant

The document discusses gas turbine thermal power plants. It begins by explaining that a gas turbine converts fuel into mechanical energy via combustion, which then drives an electric generator. It describes the basic components of a gas turbine power plant including the compressor, combustion chamber, turbine, and generator. A diagram is included showing the layout of these core components along with auxiliary systems like the regenerator. Key advantages are also summarized such as lower costs and size compared to steam plants, while disadvantages include lower overall efficiency.

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Akshay Manza
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265 views7 pages

Gas Turbine Thermal Power Plant

The document discusses gas turbine thermal power plants. It begins by explaining that a gas turbine converts fuel into mechanical energy via combustion, which then drives an electric generator. It describes the basic components of a gas turbine power plant including the compressor, combustion chamber, turbine, and generator. A diagram is included showing the layout of these core components along with auxiliary systems like the regenerator. Key advantages are also summarized such as lower costs and size compared to steam plants, while disadvantages include lower overall efficiency.

Uploaded by

Akshay Manza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GAS TURBINE THERMAL POWER PLANT

INTRODUCTION

The gas turbine is the engine at the heart of the power


plant that produces electric current. A gas turbine is a
combustion engine that can convert natural gas or other liquid
fuels to mechanical energy. This energy then drives a generator
that produces electrical energy.
Gas turbine and combined gas/steam
It is referred to as a combined cycle power plant because it
combines the Brayton cycle of the gas turbine with the Rankine
cycle of the HRSG. The turbines are fueled either with
natural gas or fuel oil.
Turbine engines come in a variety of forms. This page
shows computer drawings of four different variations of a gas
turbine or jet engine

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GAS TURBINE THERMAL POWER PLANT

Gas Turbine Power Plant:


Here I am going to explain you the different
types of power generating stations or power plant. First,
let us know what is the function of a power generating
station. A power generating station or power plant uses
various sources like hydel energy, thermal energy, diesel,
nuclear energy to produce bulk electric power. Here now
we are going to discuss how the energy of the gas
turbine is used to generate power. So for that Gas
Turbine power station or Gas turbine plant is
employed

A generating station which employs a gas turbine as the


prime mover for the generation of electrical energy is
known as a gas turbine power plant. In a gas turbine
power plant, air is used as the working fluid. The air is
compressed by the compressor and is led to the
combustion chamber where heat is added to the air, thus
raising its temperature. We will understand the gas
turbine power plant layout and learn the diagram.

Heat is added to the compressed air either by burning


fuel in the chamber or by the use of air heaters. The hot
and high-pressure air from the combustion chamber is
then passed to the gas turbine where it expands and
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GAS TURBINE THERMAL POWER PLANT

does the mechanical work. The gas turbine drives the


alternator which converts mechanical energy into
electrical energy.
It may be mentioned here that compressor, gas
turbine and the alternator are mounted on the same
shaft so that a part of the mechanical power of the
turbine can be utilised for the operation of
the compressor. Gas turbine power plants are being
used as standby plants for hydro-electric stations, as a
starting plant for driving auxiliaries in power plants etc

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GAS TURBINE THERMAL POWER PLANT

Gas Turbine Power Plant Schematic


Diagram:
The gas turbine power plant layout is shown in the
figure below. The main components of the Gas Turbine
Power Plant are :

(i) Compressor
(ii) Regenerator
(iii) Combustion chamber
(iv) Gas turbine
(v) Alternator
(vi) Starting motor

(i) Compressor:
The compressor used in the plant is generally of rotatory type. The air at
atmospheric pressure is drawn by the compressor via the filter which
removes the dust from the air. The rotatory blades of the compressor
push the air between stationary blades to raise its pressure. Thus air
at high pressure is available at the output of the compressor.

(ii) Regenerator: A regenerator is a device which recovers heat from


the exhaust gases of the turbine. The exhaust is passed through the
regenerator before wasting to the atmosphere. A regenerator consists of
a nest of tubes contained in a shell as seen in the below power plant
layout. The compressed air from the compressor passes through the

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GAS TURBINE THERMAL POWER PLANT

tubes on its way to the combustion chamber. In this way, compressed air
is heated by the hot exhaust gases.

Gas turbine power plant layout

(iii) Combustion chamber: The air at high pressure from the


compressor is led to the combustion chamber via the regenerator. In the
combustion chamber, heat is added to the air by burning oil. The oil is
injected through the burner into the chamber at high pressure to ensure
atomisation of oil and its thorough mixing with air. The result is that the
chamber attains a very high temperature (about 3000 F). The combustion
gases are suitably cooled to 1300F to 1500F and then delivered to the
gas turbine.

(iv) Gas turbine: The products of combustion consisting of a mixture


of gases at high temperature and pressure are passed to the gas
turbine.These gases in passing over the turbine blades expand and thus
do the mechanical work. The temperature of the exhaust gases from the
turbine is about 900F.

(v) Alternator: The gas turbine is coupled to the alternator as seen in


the gas turbine plant layout. The alternator converts mechanical energy

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GAS TURBINE THERMAL POWER PLANT

of the turbine into electrical energy. The output from the alternator is
given to the bus-bars through the transformer, circuit breakers and
isolators.

(vi) Starting motor: Before starting the turbine, the compressor has to
be started. For this purpose, an electric motor is mounted on the same
shaft as that of the turbine. The motor is energised by the batteries. Once
the unit starts, a part of the mechanical power of the turbine drives the
compressor and there is no need of motor now.

Gas turbine power plant Advantages:

The following are the advantages of gas turbine power plant:

(i) It is simple in design as compared to steam power station since no


boilers and their auxiliaries are required.
(ii) It is much smaller in size as compared to the steam power station of
the same capacity. This is expected since the gas turbine power
plant does not require a boiler, feed water arrangement etc.
(iii) The initial and operating costs are much lower than that of the
equivalent steam power station.
(iv) It requires comparatively less water as no condenser is used.
(v) The maintenance charges are quite small.

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GAS TURBINE THERMAL POWER PLANT

(vi) Gas turbines are much simpler in construction and operation than
steam turbines.
(vii) It can be started quickly form cold conditions.
(viii) There are no standby losses. However, in a steam power station,
these losses occur because the boiler is kept in operation even when the
steam turbine is supplying no load.

Gas turbine power plant Disadvantages:

The following are the disadvantages of gas turbine power plant:

(i) There is a problem with starting the unit. It is because before starting
the turbine, the compressor has to be operated for which power is
required from some external source. However, once the unit starts, the
external power is not needed as the turbine itself supplies the necessary
power to the compressor.
(ii) Since a greater part of power developed by the turbine is used in
driving the compressor, the net output is low.
(iii) The overall efficiency of such plants is low (about 20%) because the
exhaust gases from the turbine contain sufficient heat.
(iv) The temperature of the combustion chamber is quite high (3000F) so
that its life is comparatively reduced.

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