Efficiency of using heat pumps with various refrigerants in real steam turbine power units with PT-80 and T-250 turbines

Abstract

Prospects for increasing the efficiency of heat and electric energy-generation and heat-and-power supply at thermal power plants obviously draw attention to such modern and innovative technologies as heat pumps. Heat pumps allow efficient redistribution of energy flows. The abundance of low-potential heat carriers and heat sources in the cycle arrangement of the thermal power plants operation requires modernization of production and increase of the fuel heat utilization factor, therefore, reduction of specific fuel consumption for the production of heat and electricity. This paper analyzes the influence and practicability of introducing heat pumps into the heating circuit of the return water of the heat network of power units with PT-80 and T-250 turbines. Heat pumps of various configurations provide invariant energy conversion factor and efficiency. To assess energy and economic efficiency, modeling of the operation of power units and calculation of heat pump circuits for various refrigerants are performed. The economic effect is represented in quarterly cash savings of operating costs.