Gas turbine with a free power turbine

A light oil gas turbine plant operates with a free power turbine. The power output is 17 MW
when the ambient conditions are 308 K and 0.95 bars. The turbine inlet temperature is 1250K.
The pressure ratio of the compressor is 8.5 and the isentropic efficiencies of the compressor
and compressor-turbine are 0.8 and 0.85 respectively. The isentropic efficiency of the power
turbine is 0.87. The mechanical efficiency on the power turbine shaft is 0.98.
The combustion pressure loss is 4 %. Calculate the required flue gas mass flow through
m&
the gas turbine and the specific fuel consumption (= β = FUEL ). The following is also
m& AIR
given:

Ratio of specific heat for compression in the compressor: κair = 1.39

Ratio of specific heat for expansion in the power turbine κpower turbine = 1.33

qg
compressor turbine 2
turbine 1

2
3
1 4 5
air

fuel
HINTS:

Hint 1 (-2p)
The flue gas mass flow can be found through a heat balance over the free power turbine,
which has a power output of 17 MW.

Pel = 17 MW = qG (h4 − h5 ) * η m

Hint 2 (-4p)

To find h4 and h5 we have to find the temperatures t4 and t5.

We know that turbine 1 operates the compressor, i.e.

PT1 = PK

Or with a heat balance:

c PK * ∆TK = (1 + β ) * c PT 1 * ∆TT 1

From this heat balance we can find ∆TT1 as we do not know the pressure ratios over
respective turbine. β is the specific fuel consumption and is found through a heat balance over
the combustion chamber.

Hint 3 (-3p)

The pressure ratio over Turbine 1 is found from

1 1
∆TT 1 = 267 = T3 * ηT 1 [1 − ] Æ π T1 = [ ]κ /(κ −1)
π T1 (κ −1) / κ
1 − ∆TT 1 / T3 *ηT 1

Now we are able to calculate the pressure ratio over the power turbine, πT2, and thus the outlet
temperature t5.
SOLUTION
The flue gas mass flow can be found through a heat balance over the free power turbine,
which has a power output of 17 MW.

Pel = 17 MW = qG (h4 − h5 ) *η m

We have to find the enthalpies h4 and h5. These are directly correlated to the temperatures,
that is, we have to find the temperatures T4 and T5. To find T4 with have to look for the
temperature decrease in the first turbine.

As we do not know the pressure ratios in respective turbine, we cannot use the temperature
decrease equation with pressure ratio. However, we know that turbine 1 operates the
compressor, i.e.

PT1 = PK

Or with a heat balance:

c PK * ∆TK = (1 + β ) * c PT 1 * ∆TT 1 [A]

Here we can find T4.

We start in calculating on the compressor. The temperature increase is:

κ −1 0.39
T1 308
∆TK = * [π Kκ − 1] = * [8.5 1.39 − 1] ≈ 316.9
ηK 0.8

We can calculate t2. We can find the enthalpy (or we can as well work with cp) for example in L
Wester’s “Tables and Diagrams, year 1994” p 149. In the compressor we have pure air, therefore x =0.

t 2 = 35 + 316.9 ≈ 352° ⇒ h2 ≈ 360kJ / kg

If we work with the Cp value, it is found on p 163 for the average temperature in the
compressor.
c Pc ≈ 1025 J /(kg , K ) _ at _ t m ≈ 192°C _ in _ compressor

We can now put the values for the compressor into Eq. A. However, the specific heat for
turbine 1, CpT1 is a function of the outlet temperature T4. The function in diagram form can be
found on page 164 in L. Wester “Tables and Diagrams”. We have to iterate by guessing an
outlet temperature, finding a Cp and recalculate the temperature. However, Cp for the turbine
is also a function of the flue gas content x. So in order to find T4 we first have to calculate the
specific fuel consumption, β. This parameter is also included in Eq A. β is calculated with a
heat balance on the combustion chamber.

Heat balance on combustion chamber (on flow free basis):

h2 + β*Hi = (1+β)*h3 [1]

Hi = 42,3 MJ/kg for light oil.
h3 is a function of the gas content, and thus a function of β. For light oil the gas content is:

β
x = 15,52 * [2]
1+ β

The enthalpy h3 is

h3 = h3 (air) + x*DH [3]

The enthalpy for air at 1250K = 977 °C (L. Wester page 150):

h3 (air) = 1062 kJ/kg and DH = 99,3 kJ/kg.

Combining [2] and [3] into [1] gives:

h3air − h2 1062 − 360

β= = = 0.0177
H i − h3air − 15.52 ⋅ DH (t 3 ) 42300 − 1062 − 15.52 ⋅ 99.3

So the specific fuel consumption is 1.77%.

Now we are able to calculate T4 for the turbine according to Eq. A:

 x = 15 .52 * β /(1 + β ) = 0 .27 

1025 * 316 .9  
∆ TT 1 = = Guess _ t 4 ≈ 700 °C ⇒ t m ≈ 840 °C  = 267 ⇒ t 4 = 710 °C
1 .0177 * c PT 1  
⇒ c PT 1 ≈ 1195 J / kg , K ⇒ t 4 ≈ 710 °C 

kJ
h4 = h4 (t 4 ) air + x * DH (t 4 ) = 753 + 0.27 * 65 = 770.5
kg

In order to find T5 we have to know which are the pressure ratios on respective turbine. The
pressure ratio on first turbine is found from:

1
∆TT 1 = 267 = T3 * ηT 1 [1 − (κ −1) / κ
]
π T1

Solving for the unknown pressure ratio πT1 :

1
π T1 = [ ]κ /(κ −1)
1 − ∆TT 1 / T3 *ηT 1

κT1 is found for example in “Tables and diagrams” L. Wester. With tmt1=(710+977)/2= 844 °C
and x = 0.27, we get κT1 = 1,317.

Thus
π T 1 ≈ 3.33 = P3 / P4

The pressure ratio on the power turbine can now be found, taking into account the combustion
pressure loss:

P4 = P3 / 3.33 = 8.5 * 0.95 * 0.96 / 3.33 = 2.33 ⇒ π T 2 = 2.33 / 0.95

The temperature decrease in the power turbine is:

1
∆TT 2 = T4 * ηT 2 * [1 − (κ −1) / κ
]
πT2

1
∆TT 2 = 983 * 0.87 * [1 − ] ≈ 171 ⇒ t 5 = 539°C
(2.33 / 0.95) 0.33 / 1.33

The enthalpy for the outlet temperature of the power turbine is

kJ
h5 = h5 (t 5 ) air + x * DH (t s ) = 562 + 0.27 * 45.5 ≈ 574.3
kg

The electrical power output heat balance gives the mass flow:

Pel 17000
qG = = ≈ 88.4kg / s
(h4 − h5 ) *η m (770.5 − 574.3) * 0.98