Power Generation Turbine Inlet Chilling Solutions
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TAS manufactures turbine inlet chilling
(TIC) power augmentation systems under the Turbine Air Systems brand.
TIC technology is utilized with both simple and combined cycle gas
turbines (GTs) by the power generation industry.
Natural gas is the fuel source in the GT “combustion” process used to
generate electric power. As a fuel source, natural gas is recognized
as the most environmentally friendly of all the fossil fuels currently
used to generate electricity. As natural gas is converted to
electricity in the combustion process, gas turbines experience a
performance degradation (de-rate) as ambient (outside) temperatures
increase. De-ration can reach as high as 20% (de-rates approaching and
exceeding 30% have been experienced in extreme heat and humidity
conditions) of power generation capacity as ambient temperatures reach
or exceed 100° F. TAS' turbine inlet chilling systems can correct the
derate effect by increasing net gas turbine output by 12-30% depending
on the gas turbine model and climate conditions. It’s a simple
correlation, as ambient temperature increases; power output decreases.
The
temperature at which gas turbines are rated is 59°F (15°C) or ISO. In
a vast majority of cases, the gas turbines operate at significantly
higher ambient conditions, which significantly reduces the output and
efficiency of all gas turbines. Consequently, as it gets hotter during
the day, less power is produced. Turbine inlet chilling (TIC) systems
are able to cool the GT inlet air from those high ambients to as low as
45°F (7.2°C), allowing the net GT output to exceed that of its ISO
rating. A properly designed TIC system will maintain a constant GT
inlet temperature as required by local climate conditions and/or
customer specifications. In addition, as GT load profiles change, the
TIC system is able to match the GT inlet temperature necessary for each
load requirement.
Turbine inlet chilling is the most robust of available power
augmentation technologies. Inlet chilling systems produce more MWs,
with less emissions and at a lower $/MW installed cost than any other
form of dispatchable peak generation technology.
Introduction to Turbine Inlet Chilling
Inlet Cooling Technology Comparison
New or Retrofit Inlet Chilling Applications
TAS Turbine Inlet Chilling Power Augmentation Value Proposition
Power Generation/Augmentation
TAS Turbine Experience
Combustion Turbine Efficiency:
Combustion turbine (CT) generation output degrades with increases in
ambient (outdoor) temperature. CT power plants can lose on average up
to 15% or greater of their power generation capability. This
generation capability is lost when most needed – as temperatures rise
during summer time peaks. Turbine inlet chilling restores this “lost
capacity” by setting a temperature design point to chill the air
entering the turbine air inlets. TAS’ chilled water or air-cooled
systems generate artificially cooled air and restores the CT’s
operating efficiency to a design point that approximates 59° F.
Incremental MW Capacity:
TAS inlet chilling systems are installed on both simple and combined
cycle combustion turbines. As an example, a TAS system can boost power
output of a combined cycle plant by 10 to 15%. For a 500 MW plant,
this would equate to 50 to 75 MWs of peak generation capacity.
Dispatchable MWs:
Turbine inlet chilling MWs are the only dispatchable source of power
augmentation generation capacity. Ambient temperature and relative
humidity don’t impact the performance or output of inlet chilling
technology – whereas with other forms of power augmentation such as wet
compression, fogging or evaporative cooling – wet bulb temperature
(humidity) can limit power augmentation capabilities.
$/MW Operating Cost:
The primary operating cost for a turbine inlet chilling system is the
electricity to operate the chilled water or air-cooled plant. All
other costs are nominal. An approach to offsetting electric cost (or
drawing electricity off the host CT) is to install a thermal energy
storage system in conjunction with the inlet chilling plant. The
thermal energy storage tank can be charged at night at lower night time
utility rates and discharged during the day when electric rates are
higher or approaching peak period.
$/MW Installation Cost:
Turbine inlet chilling installed cost ranges from $250 - $250 / kW
depending on the gas turbine model, weather conditions and site
specific costs. Conversely a greenfield, simple cycle peaker plant may
cost $400 / kW to install.
Lower Emissions:
Inlet chilling on combined cycle combustion turbines is an
environmentally friendly approach to increasing power generation
capacity. Retrofitting a high efficiency combined cycle power plant
with inlet chilling enables the production of peak power at a lower
heat rate as compared to a simple cycle gas turbine. Additionally,
turbine inlet chilling MWs on a combined cycle plant don’t generate
additional emissions (50% less NOx emission) as compared to
constructing and operating a new and separate simple cycle peaking
plant.
TAS also offers air-cooled turbine inlet chilling systems, which are
employed in regions with water restriction or conservation measures.
Load Following Capability:
TAS inlet chilling MWs are dispatchable within one minute (performance
enhanced with thermal energy storage) and are ideal for load following
applications and ancillary services (spinning reserve; ramp up and down
capability) as grid operators and power markets meet daily and hourly
changes in demand.
Shorter Cycle Time:
A TAS turbine inlet chilling system can be installed in as little as 10
months from receipt of purchase order as compared to a more protracted
18 to 24 month project schedule in the construction of a new simple
cycle power plant.
Chill Beyond Wet Bulb Conditions:
With turbine inlet chilling, plant operators can chill the inlet air to
any temperature versus the wet bulb (relative humidity) limitation of
evaporative cooling technology. TAS chilled water systems do not
employ water injection in which power augmentation capability is
limited by relative humidity (RH).
Turbine Protection:
Turbine inlet chilling technology injects chilled air, not water, into
the turbine inlets. Water injection has been widely recognized for
causing turbine blade corrosion and other maintenance issues.
Consequently, inlet chilling maintenance costs can be significantly
less than other forms of power augmentation in which water injection is
the primary cooling technology.
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For more information.
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