Flexible design and operation of power plants
With the increasing share of variable renewable electricity on the grid, gas turbine power (CCGT) plants must become more flexible. The gas turbine technology is very well suited for flexible operations. The main challenges for are linked to the steam part of the CCGT and to deep part load operation with a significant reduction in efficiency.
Recent research
Part load efficiency improvement by external flue gas recirculation
The part load operation range of a gas turbine (CCGT) installation can be extended by the increase of the inlet temperature. A free source of heat to increase the inlet temperature are the exhaust gases. The potential increase in efficiency is up to 18% for cogeneration installations and 5% for combined cycle installations.
More information can be found in the following papers:
Steimes, J., Klein, S., & Persico, M. (2018). Enabling efficient and low emissions deep part load operation of combined cycles and combined heat and power plants with external Flue Gas Recirculation. Proc Glob Power Propuls Soc, 18., https://gpps.global/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GPPS-Zurich18-0013.pdf
V. Prakash, J. Steimes, D. J. E. M. Roekaerts, Sikke Klein: Modelling the Effect of External Flue Gas Recirculation on NOx and CO Emissions in a Premixed Gas Turbine Combustor With Chemical Reactor Networks. ASME Turbo Expo 2018: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition, Oslo; 06/2018, DOI:10.1115/GT2018-76548
S.A. Klein, F.van Deursen: Evaluation of the Optimum Hybrid Power to Heat Configuration for a Gas Turbine Based Industrial Combined Heat and Power Plant. ASME Turbo Expo 2019: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition; 06/2019, DOI:10.1115/GT2019-90946
Kapoor, RR, & Klein, S. "Innovative Cycles for Industrial Combined Heat and Power Generation With Carbon Capture and Storage." Proceedings of the ASME Turbo Expo 2022: Turbomachinery Technical Conference and Exposition. Volume 4: Cycle Innovations; Cycle Innovations: Energy Storage. Rotterdam, Netherlands. June 13–17, 2022. V004T06A008. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2022-80697