Powerplant Engineering (KQE7011) Hammad Ahmad Ainuddin (KQK170019)
Assignment 4
Gas Power Systems
(a)
The thermal efficiency increases with increasing pressure ratio across the compressor. Referring to
the T-s diagram above, we see that an increase in the pressure ratio changes the cycle from
12341 to 12'3'41. Since the average temperature of heat addition is greater in the
latter cycle and both cycles have the same heat rejection process, cycle 12'3'41 would have
the greater thermal efficiency.
(b)
Powerplant Engineering (KQE7011) Hammad Ahmad Ainuddin (KQK170019)
Powerplant Engineering (KQE7011) Hammad Ahmad Ainuddin (KQK170019)
Combined Cycle Power Plant
(a)
(b)
The stream exiting the turbine of a gas turbine is at a high temperature. One way the potential (exergy)
of this high-temperature gas stream can be used, thereby improving overall fuel utilization, is by a
regenerator (that allows the turbine exhaust gas to preheat the air between the compressor and
combustor. Another method is provided by the combined cycle shown in figure above, involving a gas
turbine cycle and a vapor power cycle. The two power cycles are coupled so that the heat transfer to
the vapor cycle is provided by the combined gas turbine cycle, which may be called the topping cycle.
Powerplant Engineering (KQE7011) Hammad Ahmad Ainuddin (KQK170019)
The combined cycle has the gas turbine's high average temperature of heat addition and the vapor
cycle's low average temperature of heat rejection, and thus a thermal efficiency greater than either
cycle would have individually. For many applications combined cycles are economical, and they are
increasingly being used worldwide for electric power generation.
With reference to the figure above, the thermal efficiency of the combined cycle is
Where 𝑊̇𝑔𝑎𝑠 is the net power developed by the gas turbine and 𝑊̇𝑣𝑎𝑝 is the net power developed by
the vapor cycle. 𝑄̇𝑖𝑛 denotes the total rate of heat transfer to the combined cycle, including additional
heat transfer, if any, to superheat the vapor entering the vapor turbine. The evaluation of the
quantities appearing in the equation above follows the procedures described in the sections on vapor
cycles and gas turbines.
(c)
2 modifications can be done to improve the thermal efficiency in an ideal Rankine cycle of a
combined cycle powerplant which are reheat and superheat, and to provide regenerative feedwater
heating.
1. Reheat and superheat – reheat and superheat the steam after the steam turbine (high
pressure) to turn another low pressure steam turbine (usually on the same shaft)
2. Reduce condenser pressure – reduce condenser pressure so that the heat rejection is
greater (due to lower temperature of heat rejection)
Powerplant Engineering (KQE7011) Hammad Ahmad Ainuddin (KQK170019)
(d)
2 modifications can be done to improve the thermal efficiency in an ideal Brayton cycle of a
combined cycle powerplant which are reheat and superheat, and to provide regenerative feedwater
heating.
1. Increase pressure ratio - average temperature of heat addition is greater when the pressure
is higher. Increase the compresser pressure ratio (but the system will need to be bigger as a
larger mass flow rate would be required).
2. Regenerative heating – Hot turbine gas is bleeded/exhausted from the turbine to preheat
the cooler air (leaving the compressor) in a counterflow heat exchanger before going into
the combustor.
