Topping & Bottoming Cycle

High temperature gas turbine plant of combination cycle plant is called topping cycle while
lower temperature steam turbine plant is called bottoming plant.
Features:
1) The combined plant combines the thermodynamics advantages of both the higher
temperature of gas turbine and lower temperature steam turbine plant.
2) In this plant the huge loss of energy in gas turbine plant (the topping cycle) is
significantly reduced by utilizing the heat in lower temperature steam turbine cycle
(bottoming cycle).
3) The higher temperature exhaust gases transfer a large portion of its heat to raise stream
for turbine power plant.
4) It has higher thermal efficiency than steam or gas turbine cycle operating alone.

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GT – ST Combined Cycle Power Plant:

GT – ST Combined Cycle Power Plant with supplementary

combustion of fuel

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GT – ST Combined Cycle Power Plant:

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For Compression process of air

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 Pinch & Approach Points

Pinch point is the temperature difference between the gas turbine exhaust leaving the
evaporator section and the saturation temperature of steam at corresponding pressure
(drum operating pressure). Approach point is the temperature difference between the
temperature of steam corresponding to drum operating pressure and water temperature
leaving the economizer. Both these variables affect the steam production and the cost and
effectiveness of HRSG.
If pinch point is lower, total heat recovered in HRSG in higher and steam generation is also
high. However lowering pinch point requires more heat exchange surface and increase in
cost and draft side loss. Its optimum value is 8‐ 10°C.
Lower is approach temperature, higher is steam production in economizer due to flashing
which needs to be avoided for long life of tubes. Higher approach temperature increases
the surface in evaporator section and assures higher
stability.

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Combined Cycle Steam Power Plant

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Kehlhoffer Power Plant Data (1991)

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Combined Cycle Plant with Additional Heating

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 0 (energy balance at boiler)
𝑚 ‐𝑚 ℎ ℎ 𝑚   ℎ ℎ
𝑚   ℎ ℎ 𝑚   ℎ ℎ

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(energy balance at boiler)

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𝑄

=> 𝑚 . ⁄ 9.24 kg/sec

.

.
=> Or 
.

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