Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Abstract:
Thermodynamic assessment of grid-based gas turbine power plants in Nigerian energy utility sector is presented based on second law analysis (energy and exergy). The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the performance parameters for the turbine plants and identify components of the turbine system that offer opportunities for thermodynamic improvement. The performance of the plants were estimated by component-wise modeling and a comprehensive break-up of energy and exergy losses for the considered plants were determined using the daily operating data. Performance analyses based on energetic and exergetic criteria such as thermal efficiency, exergy efficiency, exergy destruction rate, efficiency defect and exergetic performance coefficient were performed based on these operating data for all the considered plants. The percentage ratio of the exergy destruction to the total exergy destruction in the plants was found to be maximum in the combustion chamber followed by the turbine, calculated to be between 6.7-7% for compressor, 16.6-18 % for turbine and 74 and 85% for combustion chamber. The combustion chamber and turbine are the two components found from the research to offer opportunity for thermodynamic improvement. However, the results obtained are found to provide comprehensive information for which plant performance improvement and optimization can be obtained

Keywords: gas turbine, performance, energy, exergy, efficiency defect.

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