Chapter 6 Gas Turbine Power Plant

Er. Khem Gyanwali Lecturer

Open Cycle Gas Turbine

A gas turbine, also called a combustion turbine, is a type of

internal combustion engine. It has an upstream rotating compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between. Energy is added to the gas stream in the combustor, where fuel is mixed with air and ignited. In the high pressure environment of the combustor, combustion of the fuel increases the temperature. The products of the combustion are forced into the turbine section. There, the high velocity and volume of the gas flow is directed through a nozzle over the turbine's blades, spinning the turbine which powers the compressor and, for some turbines, drives their mechanical output. The energy given up to the turbine comes from the reduction in the temperature and pressure of the exhaust gas. Energy can be extracted in the form of shaft power, compressed air or thrust or any combination of these and used to power aircraft, trains, ships, generators, or even tanks.

The gas turbine has experienced phenomenal progress and growth since its first successful development in the 1930s. The early gas turbines built in the 1940s and even 1950s had simple-cycle efficiencies of about 17 percent because of the low compressor and turbine efficiencies and low turbine inlet temperatures due to metallurgical limitations of those times. Therefore, gas turbines found only limited use despite their versatility and their ability to burn a variety of fuels.
Applications Gas turbines can be used for large scale power generation. Examples are applications delivering 600 MW or more from a 400 MW gas turbine coupled to a 200 MW steam turbine in a co-generating installation. Such installations are not normally used for base load electricity generation, but for bringing power to remote sites such as oil and gas fields. They do however find use in the major electricity grids in peak shaving applications to provide emergency peak power. Low power gas turbine generating sets with capacities up to 5 MW can be accommodated in transportation containers to provide mobile emergency electricity supplies which can delivered by truck to the point of need.

Open Gas Turbine cycle

Open gas turbine cycle is the most basic gas turbine unit. The working fluid does not circulate through the system, therefore it is not a true cycle. It consists of a compressor, a combustion chamber and a gas turbine. The compressor and the gas turbine are mounted on the same shaft. The compressor unit is either centrifugal or axial flow type. The working fluid goes through the following processes:
1-2

irreversible but approximately adiabatic compression 2-3 constant pressure heat supply in the combustion chamber 3-4 irreversible but approximately adiabatic expansion of combustion gases

In the simplified T-s diagram, shown above, pressure loss at compressor inlet, in combustion chamber and at turbine outlet are neglected. Thermal efficiency of the cycle is

Closed Cycle Gas Turbine

A closed-cycle gas turbine is a turbine that uses a gas

(e.g. air, nitrogen, helium, argon etc.) for the working fluid as part of a closed thermodynamic system. Heat is supplied from an external source. Such re circulating turbines follow the Brayton cycle.
A closed Brayton cycle recirculates the working fluid, the

air expelled from the turbine is reintroduced into the compressor, this cycle use a heat exchanger to heat the working fluid instead of an internal combustion chamber. The closed Brayton cycle is used for example in closedcycle gas turbine and space power generation.

Ideal Brayton cycle: Isentropic process - ambient air is drawn into the compressor, where it is pressurized. Isobaric process - the compressed air then runs through a combustion chamber, where fuel is burned, heating that aira constant-pressure process, since the chamber is open to flow in and out. Isentropic process - the heated, pressurized air then gives up its energy, expanding through a turbine (or series of turbines). Some of the work extracted by the turbine is used to drive the compressor. Isobaric process - heat rejection (in the atmosphere)

Brayton Cycle with Reheat

Compression with Intercooling

Bryaton cycle with Regenerator

Starting of Gas Turbine

Starting of a gas turbine power plant requires an auxiliary power source, till the plants own compressor inducts air and compresses it to a pressure such that expansion from reasonable temp. will develop enough power to sustain operation. The starter may be i) an I.C. engine ii) a steam turbine iii) an auxiliary electric motor or iv) another gas turbine. It must be coupled to the turbo-compressor shaft with a disengaging or over-running clutch. A main generator or its direct connected exciter may be pressed into temporary service as a motor.

Starting Procedure 1. Run the unit and induct air. 2. Actuate the combustion ignition system and inject the fuel. The fuel flow is controlled to obtain the necessary warm up. 3. Adjust the speed and voltage and synchronize the alternator. 4. Build up the load on the alternator by governor gear control.

Advantages of gas turbine engines

Very high power-to-weight ratio, compared to reciprocating engines; Smaller than most reciprocating engines of the same power rating. Moves in one direction only, with far less vibration than a reciprocating engine. Fewer moving parts than reciprocating engines. Low operating pressures. High operation speeds. Low lubricating oil cost and consumption.

Disadvantages of gas turbine engines

Cost is much greater than for a similar-sized reciprocating engine since the materials

must be stronger and more heat resistant. Machining operations are also more complex;
Usually less efficient than reciprocating engines, especially at idle. Delayed response to changes in power settings. These disadvantages explain why road vehicles, which are smaller, cheaper and

follow a less regular pattern of use than tanks, helicopters, large boats and so on, do not use gas turbine engines, regardless of the size and power advantages imminently available.