Question 3: What are the major differences between the two methods and how do those

differences impact results?

Answer 3: Philosophical Differences see Answer to Question 4 regarding impact on
results.

- Definition of efficiency:
o PTC 4.1 defines efficiency as:
100
Credits Heat Input Fuel
Losses Heat
100
Input Total
Output
100 Efficiency
gross

|
|
.
|

\
|
+
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
which is referred to as gross efficiency. The total input is the sum of the available
chemical energy in the fuel, HHV, plus heat credits or the energy content of working
fluids entering the steam generator boundary with respect to the reference
temperature, such as air and fuel. When heat losses and heat credits are expressed
on a percent basis (QpL=100xQrL/HHV and QpB=100xQrB/HHV where QrL and
QrB are in units of Btu/lbm fuel), the gross efficiency by the heat loss method
becomes
QpB
QpL
Eff
g
+
=
100
100 100
It is noted that the terms heat losses and heat credits have been simplified to losses
and credits in PTC 4. Also, the heat loss method in PTC 4.1 is now referred to as
the energy balance method in PTC 4.
o PTC 4 defines efficiency as:
100 100 100
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
Input Fuel
Credits Losses
Input Fuel
Output
Efficiency
fuel

which is referred to as fuel efficiency and is the preferred PTC 4 definition. Fuel
Input is the available chemical energy in the fuel, HHV. When losses and credits
are expressed on a percent basis (QpL=100xQrL/HHV and QpB=100xQrB/HHV
where QrL and QrB are in units of Btu/lbm fuel), the fuel efficiency by the energy
balance method becomes:

QpB QpL 100 f Ef
f
+ =

With Fuel Efficiency, fuel flow may be calculated directly from Output and Fuel
Efficiency.
o In summary, efficiency may be defined in different ways, including LHV rather
than HHV. Therefore, the user must be careful to assess the definition before
attempting to compare efficiency values directly. The important parameter to be
evaluated is fuel flow. i.e. the parameter that should be consistent between various
definitions of efficiency is fuel flow.