Impact of Parameters on Gas Turbine Performance Using Energy Analysis
Chukwuneke J. L. *
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azizikwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Okechi L. E.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azizikwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Unegbu C.I.
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Lagos, Nigeria.
Ekechi A.T.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azizikwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Madumere A.U.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azizikwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Okeke J.C.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azizikwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Odeh C.P.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Nnamdi Azizikwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Gas turbine power plant performance was investigated using parametric analysis. Thermodynamic relationships were used to develop models that simulated the gas turbine performance under varying operating conditions. The gas turbine located at the Transcorp Power, Ughelli, Nigeria, was used for simulation employing MATLAB R2017b codes. The model demonstrated that the gas turbine performance is significantly influenced by operational parameters, for example, relative humidity (RH), compression ratio (CR), ambient temperature (AT) and turbine inlet temperature. The results showed that for every 0.7% increase in AT, compressor power consumption increased by 2.5%, and for every 25% increase in RH, compressor power requirement and heat supply increased by 55%. The efficiency analysis reveals that as RH increases from 40% to 50%, cycle efficiency decreases by 0.022%. Net power output increases as RH increases. Specific fuel consumption (SFC) increased as AT and compression ratio increased; a 2.25% increase in AT resulted in a 0.25% increase in SFC. A 1.85% increase in AT resulted in a 0.23% decrease in net power and a 0.68% decrease in net power output. According to the findings, increasing the CR and the temperature of the turbine inlet improves overall efficiency while decreasing AT. The thermal efficiency decreased with an increase in AT, whereas it increased as turbine inlet temperature increased. The CR, AT, and turbine inlet temperature are all major factors in the overall performance of a gas turbine. As a result, controlling the thermodynamic parameters is economically feasible for cycle performance and advantageous for gas turbine operations.
Keywords: Efficiency, ambient temperature, gas turbine, energy analysis, power plant, relative humidity