Increasing Gas Turbine Efficiency by Inlet Air Chilling

Abstract

Gas turbine power plants are widely used for power generation in the world; they are low cost, quick to install and engender stability with regard to electricity grid variations. They are nevertheless negatively impacted by ambient temperature: on hot days power demand increases while gas turbine power falls. An 18% decrease in efficiency occurs at ambient temperature 40◦C due to lower air density and the resulting increase in compressor specific work. Inlet cooling methods are used to cool inlet air to boost the power loss on hot days. Our project presents different options for gas turbine inlet air cooling which includes evaporative air cooling, absorption chiller etc. The cooling method proposed in the project provides maximum power output as compared to its counterparts. The method of defining power gain caused by air cooling, as well as the results of applying air cooling to several different gas turbines and one gas turbine in combined cycle in domestic ambient conditions are presented and discussed.