Effect of design parameters on bottoming cycle performance in combined cycle power plant

Abstract

This study presents a thermodynamic analysis of the bottoming cycle in a triple-pressure reheat combined-cycle power plant to evaluate the effects of various design parameters on the cycle performance. The important design parameters include the three inlet pressures and temperatures in the steam turbines, condenser pressure, and pinch point temperature of the heat recovery steam generator. These parameters significantly affect the power output of each steam turbine, which, in turn, influences the overall power output of the combined-cycle power plant. The analysis showed the effect of each parameter on the bottoming-cycle power output and thermal efficiency. Off-design conditions can significantly affect cycle performance, which can be used to understand the behavior of the combined cycle plant. A better understanding of the cycle can help achieve better bottoming-cycle designs that produce higher power outputs and efficiencies.