Calculation of power output and total efficiency for a closed gas turbine

cycle, one axis.

In this cycle heat is transferred to air in a closed cycle by heating from a coal-fired boiler. The
cycle has two compressors with inter-cooling, regenerator and after-cooler (before air entering
the low pressure compressor). Start with drawing a connection scheme for the cycle.

Compressor pressure ratio (π) (both) 2.5

Inlet temperature each compressor 25ºC
Inlet temperature turbine 650ºC
Lowest pressure in cycle 8 bar
Isentropic efficiency compressor (both) η sk = 0.85
Isentropic efficiency turbine η sT = 0.90
Pressure loss boiler (air heating) 2%
Pressure loss, intercooler 5%
Pressure loss, regenerator (both sides) 5%
Pressure loss, after cooler 5%
Effectiveness of regenerator* 80 %
Generator efficiency η g = 0.98
Mechanical efficiency η m = 0.98
Mass flow in the cycle 185 kg/s

The combustion efficiency is 82% and is defined as the ratio of utilized heat in the boiler to
fuel supply

Calculate the power output total electrical efficiency.

*This is the same as temperature efficiency for heat exchangers

Appendix 1: Specific heat ratio as function of gas content and temperature for flue gases

Nomenclature:

κ = ratio of specific heat (Cp/CV)

π = pressure ratio
x = gas content in flue gases
t = temperature in ºC
T= temperature in K.

Subscripts:
s = isentropic
K = compressor
T = turbine
REG = regenerator
m = mean value (average)
1
Appendix 1: Specific heat ratio as function of gas content and temperature for flue
gases

1
“Tabeller and diagram” page 171, version of year 1998 by L. Wester, Sweden, or any other arbitrary handbook
with thermal engineering formulas and tables.
HINTS:

Hint 1 (-3p): The layout of the gas turbine is shown in the figure.

2 4
1 6
1 3
5

8 Boiler

1-2: Compression no 1
2-3: Inter cooling
3-4: Compression no 2
4-5: Air heater from GT exhaust
5-6: Heat exchange with coal-fired boiler
6-7: Expansion in turbine
7-8: Cooling of GT exhaust air- Regeneration to compressed air
8-1: After cooling of GT exhaust before entering the compressor

Hint 2 (-3p): The power output is calculated from

Pel = ( PT *η m − PK ) *η g

where the power output/input is the massflow*the specific heat for air*temperature
difference.

Hint 3 (-4p): The temperature increase in the compressor can be calculated as

κ −1
T1 ( )
∆TK = T2 − T1 = [π K κ −]
η SK

Remember that κ is a function of the temperature (appendix 1), thus you have to iterate
between κ and ∆T. Start assuming that κ is 1.40 for the first compressor.

The same procedure has to be done for the turbine when calculating the temperature decrease.
Solution

5) The figure shows the layout of the closed gas turbine

2 4
1 6
1 3
5

8 Boiler

1-2: Compression no 1
2-3: Inter cooling
3-4: Compression no 2
4-5: Air heater from GT exhaust
5-6: Heat exchange with coal-fired boiler
6-7: Expansion in turbine
7-8: Cooling of GT exhaust air- Regeneration to compressed air
8-1: After cooling of GT exhaust before entering the compressor

The cycle in a T-s diagram is presented below:

T
6

5
7 8 bar

4
2 8
25 deg C
3 1
s
The power output from the turbine can be calculated as the turbine power minus the
compressors’ power:

Pel = ( PT *η m − PK ) *η g

Power= mass flow * enthalpy difference

Enthalpy difference = c P (mean value for temperature interval)* temperature difference

• •
Pel = (m* c PT * ∆TT *η m − 2 * m * c PK * ∆TK )η g
c PT , ∆TT , c PK , ∆TK ?

Temperature increase in the compressor ∆TK

κ −1
T1 ( )
∆TK = T2 − T1 = [π K κ −]
η SK
T1 = 25 + 273 = 298 K
η SK = compressorisentropicefficiency = 0.85
π K = compressorpressureratio = 2.5
κ = specificheatratio

In this equation we have two unknowns; we do not know κ or the temperature T1. However κ
is a function of the temperature increase, so we have to start an iteration process (appendix 1)

Assume κ=1.4 (x = 0, air at low temp), then calculate ∆TK and read the new κ value, iterating
till the temperatures difference is no bigger than 5
298  ( 1.4 ) 
0.4

∆T K =  2 .5 − 1 = 105 K
0.815  
105
t m = 25 + = 77.5°C
2

With tm = 77,5 °C and x = 0 we find a new κ.

κ = 1.397 ⇒ ∆TK = 104 K

OK ! Then t2 = 25 + 104 = 129 °C

We can find the specific heat Cpk for air with an average temperature of 77.5°C as2

2
For example “Tabeller and diagram” page 167, version of year 1998 by L. Wester, Sweden, or any other
arbitrary handbook with thermal engineering formulas and tables.
c PK = 1008 J / kg , K ≈ 1.01kJ / kg , K

Temperature increase in turbine ∆TT :

Here we have to take into regards the pressure losses in the cycle, i.e. the turbine pressure
ratio is not equal to the compressor ratio, as we loose pressure in the heat exchangers.

 
 1 
∆TT = T6 − T7 = η ST * T6 1 − κ −1 
( )
 π T κ 

η ST = turbineisentropicefficiency = 0.90
P6
π T = turbinepressureratio =
P7
p1 * π K * (1 − ξ IC ) * π K * (1 − ξ REG )(1 − ξ boiler )
=
1 1
p1 * *
(1 − ℑ AC ) (1 − ℑ REG )
2.5 * 0.95 * 2.5 * 0.95 * 0.98
= = 4.99
1 1
*
0.95 0.95
ℑ = pressurelosscoefficient
T6 = 650 + 273 = 923K

Again we have one equation and 2 unknowns, so we iterate κ for expanding flue gases (in
turbine) and temperature decrease, starting with assuming

κ = 1.35

(remember that the gas content x=0 in this configuration, we are working with a closed air
cycle)
1
∆TT = 0.90 * 923[1 − ] = 283K
4.99 035 / 1.35
283
t m = 650 − = 508°C
2
⇒ κ = [ x = 0,508°C ] = 1.356 ⇒ ∆TT = 286 K
t m = 507°C

OK!

The Specific heat Cpt for the expanding flue gases:

( x = 0;507°C )
c PT = 1093J / kg , K ≈ 1.09kJ / kg , K

Electrical Power:
•
m = mass flow = 185 kg/s
Pel = (185 * 1.09 * 286 * 0.98 − 2 * 185 * 1.01 * 104) * 0.98
= 17300kW = 17.3MW

Total efficiency:
Puseful Pel
η tot = = •
Pfuel 1
m* c P (t 6 − t 5 ) *
η comb
η comb = 0.82
t 6 = 650 o
t5 = ?
Heat exchanger efficiency η REG = 0.80
t −t
η REG = 5 4 = heated air/ inlet temp. difference
t7 − t4
∆
η2 = 2
θ
t 4 = t 3 + ∆TK = 25 + 104 = 129°C
t 7 = t 6 − ∆TT = 650 − 286 = 364°C
t 5 = 0.80(364 − 129) + 129 = 317°C

 650 + 317 
C P t m = = 484°C  = 1084 J / kg , K
 2 
17300
η tot = = 0.21
1
185 *1.08 * (650 − 317) *
0.82

Low efficiency due to high flue gas temperature and low turbine inlet temperature. The
temperature is limited because of the air cooling of boiler tubes.