Efficiency improvement of gas turbine cogeneration systems

Abstract

In this study eight methods are evaluated for a gas turbine cogeneration cycle to improve the efficiency. These methods are increasing gas turbine inlet air temperature, cooling the inlet air of the compressor, air preheating, fuel preheating, increasing compressor inlet air pressure, increasing air excess rates, steam injection, and humidification of the inlet air of the compressor. These methods are studied in order to compare their effects on the performance of the systems. The effects of these methods on the exergetic efficiency depend on the kind of the cogeneration cycle. By combining recuperation, preheating fuel and steam injection methods high efficiency can be achieved. The combined methods give the best results under variable heat demands of the market. An appropriate combination of the efficiency improvement methods may increase the exergetic efficiency about 20 %. The results show that efficiency improvement methods must be applied together whenever it is possible.

Keywords

• cogeneration
• efficiency
• improvements