Gas Fired Electricity combustion chamber and the hot exhaust gases What makes combined cycle the
What makes combined cycle
Generation
Gas is a major source of electricity generation.
There are two main types of gas fired electricity
generation plants. These are:
Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT)
Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT)
Open Cycle Gas Turbine
Like our Hallett station, the OCGT power plant
consists only of a gas turbine engine to generate
electricity. A gas turbine engine operates in a
similar way to a jumbo jet engine. Air is sucked
into the engine intake and then compressed.
The compressed air is ignited using fuel in the
A Combined Cycle Gas Fired Power Station
Energy Information Sheets
the electricity is converted down to a safer level of
produced drive the gas turbine. The gas turbine
rotates at a high speed to drive the generator
which creates electricity.
Combined Cycle Gas Turbine
In a CCGT power plant, the gas turbine cycle
is combined with a steam turbine cycle. The hot
exhaust gas from the gas turbine engine is captured
in a type of boiler called a Heat Recovery Steam
Generator (HRSG). The HRSG uses the hot exhaust
gases from the gas turbine engine to boil water
into steam. The steam is then fed into a steam
turbine which rotates at high speed to drive a
generator, creating more electricity, in addition
to the gas turbine.
power stations more efficient?
The process of capturing the heat from the hot
exhaust gases of the gas turbine engine makes
CCGT power stations very efficient. Capturing and
reusing the heat from the hot exhaust gas delivers
significant improvements in the power stations
efficiency, as the heat energy is converted to create
additional electrical energy.
How do our homes get electricity
from the power station?
The electricity generated at a power station is
transformed into higher voltages used to transport
electricity to the power grids via the transmission
lines you see next to our highways and freeways.
When it nears our homes, businesses and schools,
A Exhaust stack H Intermediate pressure steam
B Heat Recovery I Low pressure steam
C Gas Turbine J Gas burner
D Generator K Cooling pond
E Steam Turbines L Condensate
F Condenser M Feed pump
G Hig pressure steam N Transformer
240 volts, which is used to power all our electrical
appliances including televisions, game consoles,
fridges, toasters, and washing machines.
EnergyAustralia Gas Fired
Electricity Generation
EnergyAustralia Tallawarra is a a highly efficient
combined cycle natural gas power station located
on the shores of Lake Illawarra in New South Wales.
It commenced operation in January 2009 and is
one of Australias most environmentally efficient,
large-scale gas-fired power station, emitting up to
70% less greenhouse gas than traditional coal-fired
power stations.
With a generation capacity of 435MW, EnergyAustralia
Tallawarra generates enough power to supply up to
200,000 homes.
Useful links
Natural Gas supply Association
http://www.naturalgas.org
EnergyAustralia Pty Ltd
ABN 99 086 014 968
Locked Bag 14060
Melbourne VIC 8001