Thermodynamic Evaluation of a Gas-Fired Steam Turbine Power Plant

Abstract

This research work seeks to conduct thermodynamic evaluation of a gas-fired steam turbine power plant. The energy and exergy efficiencies of the plant equipment were evaluated respectively; the exergy destruction and costing of the plant were determined. The data for this research work was obtained through direct observation and interviews from operational records of the plant. MATLAB software was used to analyze the collected data. Energy and exergy methods based on first and second laws of thermodynamics were applied to analyze the data of the plant. Results revealed that the condenser had the highest energy efficiency of 93.07%, the boiler had the lowest energy efficiency at 44.99%, while the turbine had an energy efficiency of 57.59%. The overall efficiency of the plant was 24.11%. The results of exergy efficiency of the boiler, turbine and condenser were also obtained as 69.44%, 89.70% and 15.76% respectively. The energy losses in boiler, turbine and condenser equipment of the plant were analyzed and the following results such as 33.62 MW, 11.66MW and 1.62MW were obtained. Similarly, the exergy losses and the cost rate of exergy destruction of the plant were also achieved. The research work also helps in investigating the areas in the power plant with high energy losses as a means to improve production output, and consequently enhancing the performance of the steam power plant.