Session: 09-03 Gas Turbine Power Plant

Paper Number: 81807

81807 - Feasibility of Achieving 62% Combined Cycle Efficiency With a 200 MW Gas Turbine 

The current thermal performance of advanced gas turbines (HA, HL, and J class) leads to combined cycle efficiencies exceeding 62%. Such results were achieved by making the gas turbines bigger in excess of 350 MW (larger air flow) and by increasing the firing temperature. However, a very significant part of power generation market, particularly in support of solar or wind renewable power production, requires smaller gas turbines, producing in a 1×1×1 combined cycle configuration nominally rated at 300 MW. The paper investigates options to implement improvements realized by current J class gas turbines to a smaller gas turbine producing around 200 MW. It describes the challenges for such endeavor. Taking each of the gas turbine components from the intake, compressor, combustor, turbine and exhaust, the paper examines the viability of technical solutions implemented in larger gas turbines (increased air flow, larger physical dimensions, more fuel flow etc.) to a lesser output gas turbine. It discusses also the impact of a smaller gas turbine on the bottoming cycle major equipment (HRSG, steam turbine and balance of plant). Finally, the study attempts to predict the feasibility of combined cycle efficiencies exceeding 61% combined cycles based on a gas turbine with a 200 MW output.

Presenting Author: John Gulen Bechtel Infrastructure & Power, Inc.

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. John G&#252;len, ASME Fellow, a Senior Principal Engineer in Bechtel&#39;s Infrastructure unit, is an internationally recognized expert in steam and gas turbine combined cycle systems and thermal power plant engineering with numerous patents and publications to his credit. Dr. G&#252;len&#39;s contributions include development of heat balance software at Thermoflow, design, optimization, and testing of combined cycle systems with FB and H class gas turbines at General Electric and technical assessment of novel power generation technologies at Bechtel. <br/>He was named a Bechtel Fellow in 2018.<br/>Dr. G&#252;len received his PhD degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and is a licensed professional engineer.

Authors:

John Gulen Bechtel Infrastructure & Power, Inc.
Justin Zachary Expertech Engineering Corp.