Power Plant Engineering

Gas Turbine Power

Plant
 Introduction
❑ The gas turbine in such plant obtains its
power by utilizing the heat energy from
the burnt gases in the combustion
chamber, inside which fuel and air
combustion process takes place.

❑ The burnt gases are at high temperature

and high pressure expands in the turbine
through a series of “fixed & moving
blades “ in exactly similar operation as in
the steam power plant.

❑ The simplest form of the gas turbine

power plant consist of three main
components:
1. compressor. ( C )

2. combustion chamber ( CC )

3. turbine ( T )
 Introduction
❑ The compressor is, either a centrifugal or
axial type, is coupled with the turbine by
the driving shaft, i.e the compressor is
driven by the turbine, and so compresses
the working fluid to a high pressure
ranging between (15–20 bars).

❑ Under such compression

process, assuming no
losses in both turbine and
compressor, the power
developed by the turbine
would just equal to the
power consumed by the
compressor, and the net
work output would then
be zero .
 Introduction

❑ To obtain useful outcome from the system, another component is necessary,

where the working fluid (WF) volume and pressure can be interrelated as
follows:

❑ I – WF volume may be increased at constant pressure. (diesel cycle )

❑ II – WF pressure may be increased at constant volume. (otto cycle ).

❑ This can be achieved by heat addition either under constant pressure

according to the theoretical diesel cycle, or under constant volume according
to the theoretical otto cycle, where under both conditions the WF
temperature will be raised.
❑ This can be achieved by
adding a combustion
chamber to the system.

❑ Therefore, this simple

system can be illustrated
as in (fig. 1 ).
Introduction
Closed Cycle Gas Turbine Engines
 Introduction
1 - as the compressor is coupled to the turbine, and thus absorb some of the power
produced by the turbine , then the system power production can be shown as
follows :

net work = (work produced by the turbine) - (work absorbed by the compressor)
NW = Wt - Wc

2 - More than Fifty percent of the energy converted is used by the compressor.
Only around 35 % of the energy input is available for electric power generation in
the generator. The rest of the energy is lost as heat of the exhaust gases to the
atmosphere.

3 – the fuel used can be any of the following:

i - fuel oil iv- producer gas

ii - natural gas v - blast furnace gas

iii- coal gas vi- pulverized coal

 Introduction
4 - Three parameters that affect the performance of a gas turbine are
The pressure of the air leaving the compressor
The hot gas temperature leaving the Combustion chamber
The gas temperature of the exhaust gases leaving the turbine

5 – open & closed cycle

The system operation can be one of the followings :
i – open cycle – induction & exhausting from & to the atmosphere.
ii – closed cycle – using the same recycled WF with-out atmospheric direct
connection.

6 – start – up
Means of external source of power is required to start the system operation,
such as prime-mover, electrical starter motor ….etc., as compression process
is essential for the commencement of the cycle.
Gas Turbine power plant classification
1 - Working cycle
2 –shaft power out put
i – open cycle
i – single shaft system

ii– closed cycle Ii –two shafts system

Gas Turbine power plant classification

3–turbines
i– single turbine

ii– multi turbine

Gas Turbine power plant classification
4–compressors 5–combustion chamber
i– single compressor i –single Combustion Chamber

ii– two Combustion Chamber

ii –multi compressor
Gas Turbine power plant classification
6–working fluid flow

i– multi turbine in series

ii– multi turbine in parallel

 Components of GTPP
I - The Main Equipment

1. Compressor
2. Combustor
3. Turbine
4. Generator

II - The Auxiliary Systems

1-Air Intake System

2-Exhaust System

3-Starting System

4-Fuel System
 I - The Main Equipment

1. Compressor
❑ The compressor sucks in air from the atmosphere and compresses it to
pressures in the range of 15 to 20 bar.

❑ The compressor consists of a number of rows of blades mounted on a shaft.

❑ This is something like a series of fans placed one after the other.

❑ The pressurized air from the first row is further pressurized in the second
row and so on.

❑ Stationary vanes between each of the blade rows guide the air flow from one
section to the next section.

❑ The shaft is connected

and rotates along with
the main gas turbine.
 2. Combustor

❑ This is an annular chamber where the fuel burns and is similar to the furnace
in a boiler.
❑ The air from the compressor is the combustion air.
❑ Burners arranged circumferentially on the annular chamber control the fuel
entry to the chamber.
❑ The hot gases in the range of 1400 to 1500 °C leave the chamber with high
energy levels.
❑ The chamber and subsequent sections are made of special alloys and designs
that can withstand this high temperature.
 3. Turbine
❑ The turbine does the main work of energy conversion.
❑ The turbine portion also consists of rows of blades fixed to the shaft.
❑ Stationary guide vanes direct the gases to the next set of blades.
❑ The kinetic energy of the hot gases impacting on the blades rotates the blades
and the shaft.
❑ The blades and vanes are made of special alloys and designs that can withstand
the very high temperature gas.
❑ The exhaust gases then exit to exhaust system through the diffuser.
❑ The gas temperature leaving the Turbine is in the range of 500 to 550 °C.
 4 . generator

❑ The gas turbine shaft connects to the generator to produce electric power.

❑ This is similar to generators used in conventional thermal power plants.

II - The Auxiliary Systems
1-Air Intake System
❑ Air Intake System provides clean air into the compressor.

❑ During continuous operation the impurities and dust in the air

deposits on the compressor blades. This reduces the efficiency and
output of the plant. The Air Filter in the Air Intake system prevents
this.

❑ A blade cleaning system comprising of a high pressure pump

provides on line cleaning facility for the compressor blades.

❑ The flow of the large amount of air into the compressor creates
high noise levels. A Silencer in the intake duct reduces the noise to
acceptable levels.
2-Exhaust System

❑ Exhaust system discharges the hot gases to a level which is safe for the
people and the environment. The exhaust gas that leaves the turbine is
around 550 °C. This includes an outlet stack high enough for the safe
discharge of the gases.

❑ Silencer in the outlet stack reduces the noise to acceptable levels.

❑ In Combined Cycle power plants the exhaust system has a ‘diverter

damper’ to change the flow of gases to the Heat Recovery Boilers instead
of the outlet stack.
 3-Starting System

❑ Starting system provides the initial momentum for the Gas Turbine to reach the
operating speed. This is similar to the starter motor of your car.

❑ The gas turbine in a power plant runs at 3000 RPM (for the 50 Hz grid - 3600
RPM for the 60 Hz grid). During starting the speed has to reach at least 60 % for
the turbine to work on its on inertia.

❑ The simple method is to have a starter motor with a torque converter to bring
the heavy mass of the turbine to the required speed. For large turbines this
means a big capacity motor.

❑ The latest trend is to use the generator itself as the starter motor with suitable
electrics.

❑ In situations where there is no other start up power available, like a ship or an

off-shore platform or a remote location, a small diesel or gas engine is used.
 4-Fuel System

❑ The Fuel system prepares a clean fuel for burning in the combustor. Gas
Turbines normally burn Natural gas but can also fire diesel or distillate fuels.
Many Gas Turbines have dual firing capabilities.

❑ A burner system and ignition system with the necessary safety interlocks are
the most important items. A control valve regulates the amount of fuel burned.
A filter prevents entry of any particles that may clog the burners. Natural gas
directly from the wells is scrubbed and cleaned prior to admission into the
turbine. External heaters heat the gas for better combustion.

❑ For liquid fuels high pressure pumps pump fuel to the pressure required for
fine atomization of the fuel for burning
Complete Structure of a GTPP