Combined Cycle Problem

A coal-fired steam power plant in Haparanda (north Sweden on the border to Finland)
has a steam turbine that gives 18 MWe, at 40 bars and 450°C inlet data. The
condenser pressure is 0.05 bar and the mechanical + generator efficiency are together
98%. The isentropic efficiency for the turbine is 93%.

This plant has now shown that it is not profitable (increased taxes), therefore it will be
rebuilt to a natural gas combined cycle, as Vladimir Putin and Göran Persson have
decided to build a natural gas pipeline between north Russia and Sweden through
Finland. Cheap Russian natural gas can therefore be distributed in the Haparanda-
region.

It is decided to invest in a GTX100 from Alstom Power; for data see below. The old
boiler will be exchanged to a heat recovery steam generator, to which the gas turbine
is connected. It can be assumed that an average specific heat from the gas turbine
gases is 1.09 kJ/kg °C through the HRSG and there is only one pressure level on the
steam side.

Assume that there are no extractions from the steam turbine and calculate:

a) the pinch-point temperature difference

b) the stack temperature
c) the efficiency for the new power plant (the combined cycle)

Simple Cycle
Frequency [Hz] 50
Fuel type - Natural Gas

Gross electrical output [MW] 43

Gross electrical efficiency [%] 37

Shaft speed [rpm] 3000

Compressor pressure ratio - 20
Exhaust gas temperature [deg C] 546
Exhaust mass flow [kg/s] 122
HINTS

Hint 1 (-2p)
The pinch point temperature difference, ∆tpp is:

∆tpp = tg3 – tS

where the temperatures are indicated in the T-Q diagram

Temperature

Gas turbine
tg1 exhaust
tg2

hsh
tg3
t er
h ea
Stack p er
ts Su
tg4 hs2
hs1
Evaporator
er
iz
om
on

hFW
Ec

Heat transferred

Hint 2 (-3p)

In order to calculate the gas temperature tg3 we can make a heat balance over the
evaporator and the superheater, as we know evaporation data and superheat data on
the steam side:

m& gas ⋅ c P (t g1 − t g 3 ) = m& ST (hSH − hS 1 )

In the equation with do not know tg3 or the steam mass flow, mST. In order to calculate
the gas temperature tg3, we first have to calculate the steam mass flow.
Hint 3 (-3p)

The steam mass flow can be found via a heat balance over the steam turbine:

PST = 18MW = m& ST (hSH − hout ) ⋅ η m + g

where the outlet enthalpy of the steam turbine is found in an h-s diagram

40 bar
hSH
450 deg C

0,05 bar

hout
hout,is
SOLUTION

We start drawing a sketch of the plant. It is a single pressure steam cycle with one gas
turbine connected through a HRSG.

Gas Turbine Cycle

Fuel
Air

Heat Recovery Steam Generator

Steam Cycle

The HRSG in a heat transfer diagram:

Temperature

Gas turbine
tg1 exhaust
tg2

hsh
tg3 r
te
ea
e rh
Stack
ts S up
tg4 hs2
hs1
Evaporator
er
iz
m
no
co

hFW
E

Heat transferred
a) The pinch point temperature difference, ∆tpp is:

∆tpp = tg3 – tS

tS is found in saturation tables for water/steam. For the pressure of 40 bars,

tS=250.4°C. Here we also read that hS1=1087.3 kJ/kg.

In order to calculate the gas temperature tg3 we can make a heat balance over the
evaporator and the superheater, as we know evaporation data and superheat data on
the steam side:

m& gas ⋅ c P (t g1 − t g 3 ) = m& ST (hSH − hS 1 ) [1]

In the equation with do not know tg3 or the steam mass flow, mST. In order to calculate
the gas temperature tg3, we first have to calculate the steam mass flow.

The steam mass flow can be found via a heat balance over the turbine:

PST = 18MW = m& ST (hSH − hout ) ⋅ η m + g [2]

The superheated steam enthalpy (40bars, 450°C) is found in h-s diagram or in steam
tables:

hSH = 3330 kJ/kg.

The enthalpy out from the turbine is found in a h-s diagram, by first finding the
isentropic outlet enthalpy. Thereafter the real outlet enthalpy can be calculated:

hout = hSH − η is (hSH − hout ,is ) [3]

First mark the point for superheat 40 bar

conditions, 40bars and 450°C. hSH
450 deg C

Thereafter draw a straight vertical line

down to the 0.05 bar pressure line.
0,05 bar
The isentropic outlet temperature is read
in the intersection: hout,is = 2115 kJ/kg. hout
hout,is

Equation 3 gives: hout = 3330 − 0,93(3330 − 2115) = 2200kJ / kg

Now the real expansion line can be drawn in the diagram as the intersection between
2200 kJ/kg and the pressure line of 0,05 bar.

The steam mass flow is calculated from [2]:

 18000
m& ST = = 16,25kg / s
(3330 − 2200) ⋅ η m+ g
The gas temperature tg3 can now be calculated from [1]:

m& ST (hSH − hS 1 ) 16.25 ⋅ (3330 − 1087)

t g 3 = t g1 − = 546 − = 274°C
m& gas ⋅ c p 122 ⋅ 1.09

Finally, the pinch point temperature difference is:

∆tpp = tg3 – tS =274-250.4 = 23,4°C

b) The stack temperature can be calculated with a similar heat balance as in the
previous task, this time with a span over the whole steam cycle, i.e.:

m& gas ⋅ c P (t g1 − t g 4 ) = m& ST (hSH − hFW )

It can be assumed that the specific heat is the same from tg1 to tg3 as from tg1 to tg4.

The feed water enthalpy can be found with the temperature after condenser, i.e.
saturated water at 0.05 bars. This temperature is found in a steam table Æ 33°C.

hFW = 4.18*33 = 137.5 kJ/kg

The same enthalpy is found for saturated water at 0.05 bars. The enthalpy of liquid
water does not change over a pump; therefore the feed water enthalpy at 40 bars
pressure is the saturated water enthalpy after the condenser.

The stack temperature is:

16.25 ⋅ (3330 − 137.5)

t g 4 = 546 − = 155.9°C
122 ⋅ 1.09

which is a quite high temperature. This can, however, be utilized to district heating.

c) The combined cycle efficiency is

PGT + PST
η CC =
Pfuel

Pfuel is found from the gas turbine power output and efficiency, i.e. Pfuel = PGT/ηGT.

(PGT + PST ) ⋅ η GT (43 + 18) ⋅ 0,37

η CC = = = 52,5%
PGT 43