Gas Turbines & Combined Cycle

Powerplant
 Introduction
• Gas turbines may be “internal combustion
engines” or simply a turbine element in which
an externally heated gas is expanded.
• Gas turbine is a rotary machine that uses gas
as a working fluid. When hot gases are passed
through set of blades connected to shaft, it
rotates producing the mechanical work.
Applications:
• Power generation
• Aircraft propulsion
3. Marine propulsion (turbo-shaft)
4. Gas turbines in utility applications

• These are mostly used for peak power generation as well as

for intermediate and some times for base load requirements.

• The inherent design of gas turbines makes them an

attractive option in “combined cycle power plants”, where
they are used as power-peaking units and run 1000 - 2000
hours/year.

WHY?
Gas turbines in utility applications
1. The Brayton cycle is less efficient (normally 30% to
40%) than Rankine cycle.
2. Therefore steam turbines are used for normal power
requirements.
3. Though less efficient gas turbines are cheaper,
therefore peak powers are met with by using gas
turbines instead of using costly reheating and FWH
stages.
4. Gas turbine power plants are small in size, mass and
are available at short delivery times. Their installation
is easier.
5. Compared to reciprocating IC engine, GTs have a high
power to weight ratio.
List of Thermal Powerplants in Pakistan
List of Combined-Cycle Powerplants in Pakistan
List of Combined-Cycle Powerplants in Pakistan
Gas Turbine
 Gas turbine Classifications
OPEN CYCLE

(Direct – open cycle gas turbine) (Indirect – open cycle gas turbine)
 Gas turbine configurations
CLOSED CYCLE

Direct – closed cycle gas turbine Indirect – closed cycle gas turbine
 Gas turbine configurations

Gas generator

Direct
Direct ––open
open single
singleshaft
shaft gas
gasturbine
turbine Direct – open two shaft gas turbine
Brayton / Joule cycle
• Gas turbines can be analyzed using Brayton cycle
which requires following assumptions:

1.The effect of friction upon machine and fluid is

neglected.
2.Change in K.E = Change in P.E = 0
3.So, no pressure losses in heat exchangers and
passages.
4.No increase in mass flow rate due to fuel addition.
5.Working fluid is a perfect gas (constant specific heats).
6.Radiation losses are neglected.
The ideal brayton cycle

1 – 2: Isentropic compression. 2 – 3: Constant pressure heat addition.

3 – 4: Isentropic expansion. 4 – 1: Constant pressure heat rejection.

 Processes in Brayton cycle:
i. (Isentropic compression)
• Temperature increases from T1 to T2
• Pressure increases from P1 to P2
• Volume decreases from V1 to V2
• Heat transfer is zero, entropy remains
constant

ii.(Constant pressure heat addition)

• Temperature increases from T2 to T3
• Pressure remains constant (P2 = P3)
• Volume increases from V2 to V3
iii.(Isentropic expansion)
• Temperature decreases from T3 to T4
• Pressure decreases from P3 = P2 to P4 = P1
• Volume increases from V3 to V4
• Heat transfer is zero, entropy remains
constant

iv. Constant pressure heat rejection

• Temperature decreases from T4 to T1
• Pressure remains constant at P1 = P4
• Volume decreases from V4 to V1
 (Some Terminologies)
Net work done:
•It is the difference of turbine work and compressor work.
Net work done = Turbine work – Compressor work

Work Ratio:
•It is the ratio of the net work done to the turbine work.
Work Ratio = Net work done / Turbine work

Thermal Efficiency:
•It is the ratio of net work done to the heat supplied.
Thermal Efficiency = Net work done / Heat added
The ideal Brayton cycle
Turbine power output:
• Power output is equal to the change
in the enthalpy of the gas.

W T  H  H 3  H 4
W T  m (h3  h4 )
We know that:
2
h   c p (T )dT
1
T4
WT  m  c p (T )dT
 Why are we using this integral? > (to keep it general)
T3
The ideal Brayton cycle
Turbine power output:
• Power output is equal to the • Cp is independent of temperature for
change mono-atomic gases.
in the enthalpy of the gas. • It varies for diatomic gases and
W T  H  H 3  H 4 varies even more if the gas is
triatomic.
W T  m (h3  h4 ) • In case of a mono-atomic gas such
We know that: as helium (He) an exact yet simple
analysis can be done:
2
h   c p (T )dT
1
T4
W T  mc
 p (T3  T4 )
WT  m  c p (T )dT

T3
The ideal Brayton cycle
• Lets define two pressure ratios:
1. Pressure ratio across the compressor:
2. Pressure ratio across the turbine:
P3 P2
rpT  & rpC 
P4 P1
• For an isentropic process:
T
( k 1) k
 constant
P
T3 ( k 1) k
 rpT
T4
The ideal Brayton cycle
T3
From W T  mc
 p (T3  T4 ) &  rpT( k 1) k
T4
 1 
WT  mc
  pT3 1  ( k 1) k 
 r 
 pT 
and similarly for compressor
 1 
WC  mc
  pT2  1  ( k 1) k 
 r
 pC 
assuming rpC  rpT  rp (no pressure loss in the cycle)
 1 
Wn  WT  WC  [mc
    p (T3  T2 )] 1  ( k 1) k 
 rp
 
 p (T3  T2 )  Q A
mc
 1 
so 1  ( k 1) k
 r   th
 p 
The ideal Brayton cycle
 1 
Wn  [mc p (T3  T2 )] 1  ( k 1) k
  
 r
 p 
 1 
th  1  ( k 1) k 
 r
 p 

• These equation exactly represent the case of a monoatomic

gas but similar trend is followed by other heavier gases.
• Thermal efficiency for any fixed gas is a sole function of rp.
• Thermal efficiency increases indefinitely if rp is increased.
The ideal Brayton cycle
 1 
Wn  [mc
  p (T3  T2 )] 1  ( k 1) k 
 rp
 
T2
since  rp( k 1) k
T1
W n ( k 1) k
 1 
 [c p (T3  T1rp )] 1  ( k 1) k 
m
  rp
 
W n   1  ( k 1) k
 1 
 c p T3  1  ( k 1) k 
 1 p
T r  1   
 
( k 1) k
m
 rp   rp  
W n   1   ( k 1) k rp( k 1) k 
 c p T3  1  ( k 1) k   T1  rp  ( k 1) k  
m
   rp   rp  
W n   1     1 
  T1  rp  1   c p T1  1  rp   T3 1  r (k 1) k
( k 1) k ( k 1) k
 c p T3  1  ( k 1) k  
m
   rp     p  
The ideal Brayton cycle
W n   1 
 c p T1  1  rp
( k 1) k
  T3 1  ( k 1) k  
m   r
 p  
• For fixed T1, T3, rp and k the specific work Wn/m is a direct
function of Cp.
• AT LOW TEMPERATURES:
• For Helium, = Cp = 1.250 Btu/(lbm.oR)
• For Air, = Cp =0.240 Btu/(lbm.oR)
• 1.250/ 0.240 = 5.2
• Therefore helium is able to produce around 5 times the
specific work output compared to air.
The ideal Brayton cycle
W n   1 
 c p T1  1  rp
( k 1) k
  T3 1  ( k 1) k  
m 
  rp  

• For fixed T1, T3, rp and Cp the specific work Wn/m is a direct
function of k.
• WnHe > WnAir
The ideal Brayton cycle (effect of rp)
W n   1 
 c p T1  1  rp
( k 1) k
  T3 1  ( k 1) k  
m   r
 p  

II

I III
The ideal Brayton cycle (effect of rp)
W n   1 
 c p T1  1  rp
( k 1) k
  T3 1  ( k 1) k  
m 
  rp  

• Thus in order to find the optimum rp.

• We differentiate the net specific work w.r.t. rp and equate it
to zero. This gives a value of T2.
• T2=(T1 T3)1/2
• For one gas and same rp:
• rp(k-1)/k = T2/T1 = T3/T4
• Then we may write: (T2 = T4)opt
The ideal Brayton cycle
( k 1) k T3
rp 
T4
for optimum rp , T2  (T1T3 ) 1/ 2
so we can write:
k 2( k 1)
 T3 
rpoptimum  
 T1 
• The quantity k/2(k-1) decreases if k is increased.
• So a monoatomic gases with a higher value of k will have a
lower optimum pressure ratio.
Example 8-1
• Find rp to produce 600 Btu/lbm for a) Helium and b) Air.
• Initial temperature = 500oR, Max temperature = 1500oR.

Helium Air
Cp = 1.250, K = 1.659 Cp = 0.24, K = 1.4
For W/m = 600 For W/m = 600
rp = 2.16 and 26.62 rp = imaginary values.
rp-opt = 7.58, (W/m)max= 954.8 = 16.72, (W/m) max= 183.3
rp-opt

rp-max = 57.5 rp-max = 279.6

Example 8-1 Optimum pressure ratio
Optimum pressure ratio (Ideal Brayton cycle):
T2=(T1 T3)1/2
• For one gas and same rp:
rp(k-1)/k = T2/T1 = T3/T4
• Then we may write: (T2 = T4)opt
 The non-ideal Brayton cycle

• Due to irreversibilities the ideal

processes of the Brayton cycle
cannot be achieved in actual gas
turbines.
• Compression and expansion
processes are no more isentropic.
• For simplicity we are considering
heat addition and rejection at
constant pressures.

Power Plants, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – GIK Institute Pakistan. 31/62

 Optimum pressure ratio (Non-ideal Brayton cycle):
T2s=(T1 T3)1/2
• For one gas and same rp:
rp(k-1)/k = T2s/T1 = T3/T4s
• Then we may write: (T2s = T4s)opt

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 Isentropic efficiencies (Turbine and compressor)
Ideal work
C  compressor polytropic efficiency 
Actual work
h2 s  h1
C 
h2  h1
Actual work
T  Turbine polytropic efficiency 
Ideal work
h3  h4
T 
h3  h4 s
Net power of the cycle = turbine power - |compressor power|
W  mc
 [(T  T )  (T  T )]
n p 3 4 2 1

 T2 s  T1 
  p (T3  T4 s )T 
Wn  mc 
  C 
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 Net power in terms of isentropic efficiencies
 T  T1 
since W n  mc p (T3  T4 s )T  2 s  & r ( k -1) / k
 T2 s / T1  T3 / T4 s
C 
p

 T r ( k 1) k
 1 
  pT1 T
Wn  mc 3
 p
 1  ( k 1) k   Derivation
 T C   rp
 1  

• The right hand term is the efficiency of a corresponding ideal

Brayton cycle (having same gas and temperatures).
• The amount of heat added between 2 and 3 is:
  rp( k 1) k  1  
QA  mc
 p (T3  T2 )  mc
 p (T3  T1 )   T1  
 C
   
• The non-ideal efficiency can be found by dividing the net
power over heat added.

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Power Plants, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – GIK Institute Pakistan. 35/62
 Efficiency of the non-ideal cycle
• The efficiency of the non-ideal Brayton cycle is a strong
function of the cycle temperatures (T1 & T3).
• For fixed values of T1 & T3 there exists a certain
optimum pressure ratio at which maximum power can
be extracted.
• This optimum pressure ratio is not same for maximum
efficiency.
• Due to pressure losses: rpC  rpT
P4  P1
so rpC  rpT
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 Optimum pressure ratio

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 Efficiency & power of simple non-ideal cycle

rpc vs. efficiency rpc vs. specific work

•Both W/m and efficiency are strong function of T3.

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 Modification of the Brayton cycle
• We have seen that in order to increase the power output
and efficiency of the Brayton cycle we can increase the
maximum temperature T3. This temperature is
metallurgically limited.
• Other methods are:
1. Regeneration
2. Compressor intercooling
3. Turbine reheat
4. Water injection

Power Plants, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – GIK Institute Pakistan. 39/62

 Regeneration
• Heat from with in the cycle is transferred to the gas to reduce the
amount of heat added externally.

Normally T4 > T2.

• Gases at 2 are heated by turbine exit gases at 4.
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 100% efficient regeneration

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 Actual regeneration

Regenerator effectiveness:

T2'  T2 T2'  T2
R  
T4  T4'' T4  T2
In actual regenerative Brayton
cycle, the work output
deceases
because the turbine pressure
ratio decreases.

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 Regeneration (schematic)

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 Compressor intercooling
• The expansion or compression work is a function of temperature of
the working fluid (gas). HOW??
• The steady flow work is given by:
2
W    VdP
1

PV  mRT
2dP
W    mRT
1 P
dP
W T (for a given )
P
It is advantageous to keep the gas temperature as low as possible.

Power Plants, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – GIK Institute Pakistan. 44/62

 Compressor intercooling

nR (T2  T1 )
W m
1 n
where n is the polytropic index.

• Ideally the compression occurs between same temperatures in all the

stages.
• If temperature rises in each stage is equal then the pressure ratios will
be equal as well because: n n 1
  T2
rp   
 T1 
NC
rp , stage ,C  rp ,tot ,C
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 Compressor intercooling effects on its power
n n 1 The net power
 T2  output increases
rp    because compressor
 T1  work decreases.
NC and the efficiency
rp , stage ,C  rp ,tot ,C is also improved.

• Let overall pressure ratio is 10.

• There are three stages having same stage pressure ratios.
• Pressure ratio per stage is:
3
rp , stage ,C  10  2.154 (NOT 10/3=3.33)
Hence:  H 2  H1    H 2'  H1'    H 2''  H1''    H X  H 1 
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 Turbine reheat
• Turbine work can be increased by keeping the gas temperature in
the turbine high.

NT
rp , stage ,T  rp ,tot ,T
The increase in the turbine work
is shown by 4  3' 4 ' y
The heat added is increased by
H 3'  H 4

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 Modified Brayton cycle

Go through Eq. 8-25 & 8-26

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 Water injection
• Turbine power out put can be increased by injection water
in to the gas at suitable locations.
• The efficiency is slightly improved.
Two locations for water injection:
1. In the compressor.
Its effect is the same as that of the intercooling.

2. Between the compressor and the regenerator.

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 Water injection
• With out water injection:
Gas preheating is from 2-4.
Exhaust cools from 7-9’.
• With water injection:
Gas preheating from 3-4.
Exhaust cools from 7-9.
• The quantity of water is
enough to saturate the gas
with water vapor at 3.
• Increase in net work is due to
extra mass flow rate and no
increase in compressor work.
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 Water injection
The increased mass = sat. vapor at 3 – original vapor at 1

 Pv ,3 Pv ,1 
3  1  0.622   
 P3  Pv ,3 P1  Pv ,1 
Temperature at point 3 can be obtained by an energy balance
on dry air and water vapor.
ha ,3  ha ,2  (3  1 )(hw  hw,3 )
ha ,3  ha ,2  enthalpy change of dry air.
hw,3  enthalpy of saturated vapor at 3.
hw  enthalpy of injected water.

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 Combined cycles: General
• Gas turbine temperature: 1100 – 1650oC
• Steam turbine temperature: 560 – 650oC

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 Combined cycle
with heat recovery boiler
• In low powered CCPP:
(ST power < GT power)
Present in
by 50%. large
powerplants
• The HRB may be provided with
additional burners to add heat
during peak loads. (Additional
heating is limited by HRB
design).
• Although gas temperatures in
HRB are limited to 760oC, it is
enough to bring the ST power
output equal to that of GT.
• The additional heating increases
the total cycle efficiency by
30%.
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 Combined cycle
with heat recovery boiler
• In large CCPP:
• Supplementary firing (SF)
Present in
equipment is provided. large
powerplants
• Gas turbine is operated at high
air to fuel ratio (at 400%
theoretical air) for further
combustion.
• ST power > GT power
• Power ratio = 8:1
• The steam cycle is designed to
be run maximum efficiency and
has its own forced draft fans to
allow independent operation
from gas turbine.

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 Combined cycles with multipressure steam
• PROBLEM: The exhaust gases at the exit of the HRB are still
at high temperature.
• Usual steam cycle specifications:
90 bar steam pressure.
Sat. temperature around 300oC.
Feedwater temperature into HRB 130oC.
Gas leaving HRB to the stack STILL AT 150 - 200oC.
• Some of this energy can be utilized in a multipressure steam
cycle.

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Dual pressure cycle GT exhaust

High pressure circuit

Low pressure circuit

Booster pump

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 GT exhaust gases after
Dual pressure cycle supplementary firing.

High pressure steam

Low pressure steam

T – H diagram of a dual pressure cycle.

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 750-800oC
Combined cycle for
nuclear power plants

T6>T7

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 Cycle analysis with variable properties
• The relations developed give exact analysis of the monoatomic
gases. But properties of diatomic and triatomic gases vary with
temperature.
C p  0.2317  9.0083 X 10 6 T  2.1998 X 10 8 T 2  9.0067 X 10 12 T 3
T2
h   C p (T )dT
T1

h  C p (T2  T1 )
T2

Cp 
 T1
C p (T ) dT
T2  T

• The procedure of evaluating variable gas properties is complicated,

therefore in gas turbine (GT) analysis, tabulated properties of air
and combustion properties are used, available in gas tables
developed by Keenan and Kaye.
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 Aircraft propulsion

Assumption: the jet leaves at atmospheric pressure (no pressure thrust).

Velocity imparted to the air, initially at rest  C j  Ca

F 
The thrust per unit mass flow rate = C j  Ca  m  velocity 
The propulsive (thrust) power per unit mass flow rate = Ca (C j  Ca )
This is the rate of work requried by the aircraft to fly at Ca
The engine however, has to generate more work.
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 Aircraft propulsion

The net work generated by the engine is given by the increase in

kinetic energy of the air and the power required by the aircraft to propel it.
(C j  Ca ) 2 C j 2  Ca 2
i.e.  Ca (C j  Ca )  
2 2
Thrust work 2C (C  C )
propulsive efficiency   a 2 j 2a
Work rate done on air C j  Ca
2Ca
P 
C j  Ca
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 Aircraft propulsion
2Ca
P 
C j  Ca
As the aircraft velocity increases,  P increases.
For aircrafts speeds up to 850Km/h, propeller is more efficient means of propulsion.

As the propeller tip reached sonic velocity,

the propulsive efficiency starts to fall from a
maximum peak value which is less than 100%.

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 Turbojet
• The turbine generates enough power to keep the compressor running.
• The propulsive thrust is obtained by the gas jet exiting the jet pipe.

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 Afterburning

• It is thermodynamically equivalent to reheating.

• Additional fuel is sprayed into the jet pipe, where it ignites in
any available air.
• This gives as high as 50% boost in thrust.
• But it is a very wasteful on fuel.
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 Turboprop
• The propeller takes a large
mass flow rate of air and
accelerates it backwards
producing momentum thrust.
• Some of the air from the
propeller is taken in to the
engine where it undergoes the
usual gas turbine processes.
• Not all the pressure is
consumed in the turbine.
• The hot gases further speed
up in the jet pipe to provide
additional momentum thrust.

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 Turbofan
• This design tries to combine
the advantages of turboprop
and turbojet engines.
• A ducted fan takes in some
extra air mass flow rate
which bypasses the usual gas
turbine operation.
• This slow moving yet a large
mass flow rate gives thrust in
addition to the hot exhaust
jet exiting the nozzle. These engine are efficient at high subsonic
• This cold flow envelops the velocities (up to 0.9M) and are widely used in
passenger airliners.
hot exit, remarkable reducing
engine noise.
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 Turboshaft
• In utility power plants, these gas turbines are used to run electric
generators. Most of the pressure energy is consumed during the
expansion in the gas turbine to extract maximum shaft power.
• In case of helicopters, the hot exhaust gases may be allowed to exit
the short jet pipe to provide additional momentum thrust.

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 Problem 8-6

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Power Plants, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – GIK Institute Pakistan. 69/62
 •You have all the temperatures.
Net work and efficiency can
now be calculated.
•Use Eq. 8-25 and 8-26

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 Read sections 8-6 and 8-9
Do all examples and problems 3,4,6,7,9

Questions?

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 Thermodynamic cycles and temperature ranges.

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Power Plants, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering – GIK Institute Pakistan. 73/62
 A combined cycle power plant

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 A combined cycle power plant

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