See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/281116139

Analysis of thermal efficiency of open cycle gas turbine power plant at Putrajaya
(Malaysia)

Article in Jurnal Teknologi · June 2015

DOI: 10.11113/jt.v76.5532

CITATIONS READS
0 6,764

2 authors, including:

Alhassan Salami Tijani

Universiti Teknologi MARA
40 PUBLICATIONS 765 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Alhassan Salami Tijani on 01 November 2017.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Jurnal
Full Paper
Teknologi
ANALYSIS OF THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF OPEN CYCLE Article history
Received
GAS TURBINE POWER PLANT AT PUTRAJAYA 15 February 2015
Received in revised form
(MALAYSIA) 11 April 2015
Accepted
Alhassan Salami Tijani *, Mohd Rashid Halim 9 June 2015

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University Teknologi MARA

(Shah Alam), Selangor, 40450 Shah Alam, Malaysia *Corresponding author
alhassan@salam.uitm.edu.my

Graphical abstract Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study the performance of an existing open cycle
gas turbine power plant at Putrajaya power station. At compressor inlet
temperature of 298.90K, thermal efficiency of 31 % was observed for the existing or
current cycle whiles the modified configuration yielded thermal efficiency of 45 %,
this result in 14 % increase in thermal efficiency. At pressure ratio of 3.67, thermal
efficiency of about 31.06% and 44% was recorded for the current cycle and
regenerative cycle respectively. The efficiency of both cycles increase
considerably with increase in pressure ratio, but at pressure ratio of about 7, only a
small increase in efficiency for both cycles was observed. The optimum value of
the efficiencies for both cycles that correspond to pressure ratio of 7 is 43.06 and
56% for the current cycle and the regenerative cycle respectively.

Keywords: Power generation, gas power cycle, regenerative, thermal efficiency,

thermodynamic analysis
© 2015 Penerbit UTM Press. All rights reserved

1.0 INTRODUCTION known as a regenerator [4]. More and more new

configurations of power plants have been provided
In recent times there is global concern on the increase recently. For example Zhang, et al., [5] did analyze
in fossil energy consumption and their consequence and optimize the performance of combined Brayton
increased in price and environmental challenges and inverse Brayton cycles with considerations of the
caused by the continuous dependence on these fuels. pressure drop losses in the intake, low-pressure
These challenges necessitate exploration of new ways compression, high pressure compression, combustion,
to meet the global energy demand. The best ways to expansion and discharge processes. Sanjay, et al., [6]
solve these problems is to design efficient and waste performed first and second law analysis of the Brayton-
energy recovery utility systems that depend on fossil Diesel cycle based on exergy analysis. Ziviani, et al., [7]
fuel for their operation. One of such systems is open carried out extensive review of the use of Organic
cycle gas turbine cycle. After the oil crisis in the 1970s Rankine Cycle (ORC) to exploit low grade waste
the efficiency of power plants became the top priority, thermal energy. More recent studies can be found in
and combined cycle plants become common power the literatures [8, 9]. The performance analysis of an
plant configurations [1]. Better performance of gas existing open-cycle gas-turbine power plant is
turbine can be reached with advanced cycles that performed in this paper. The inlet air cooling is one of
take advantage of the energy contained in the primary method for increasing the performance of gas
turbine exhaust gases [2, 3]. In gas turbine power, the turbines. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to study the
air leaving the compressor at high-pressure can be effect of compressor inlet temperature on the plant
heated by transferring heat to it from the hot exhaust performance
gases in a counter flow heat exchanger, which is

76:5 (2015) 31–35 | www.jurnalteknologi.utm.my | eISSN 2180–3722 |

32 Alhassan Salami Tijani & Mohd Rashid Halim / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 76:5 (2015) 31–35

2.0 BACKGROUND OF THE POWER PLANT This project consists of two separate contracts
UNDER STUDY namely open cycle gas turbine which is of John
Brown type with power output of 110MW and
Putrajaya power station project started in 1993. This Siemens AG 135MW.
power station is constructed as a fast track project.

Figure 1 System layout

The Siemens AG 135MW was selected for the natural gas as the main fuel which is supplied from
purpose of this study. The gas turbines are designed Petronas gas and high grade distillate as standby
base on open cycle operation which means the fuel. This study is limited to the performance analysis
exhaust gas from the turbine is directly release into of an open cycle power plant. The compressor is
the air through the exhaust stacks. The detail flow made of 17 stages and the turbine is made of 4
sheet of the cycle to be studied is shown in the Figure stages as shown in Figure 2.
1. The turbine use dual firing mode (see Figure 1) with

Figure 2 Compressor 17 stages, turbine 4 stages

3.0 INTEGRATION OF REGENERATION TO THE load applications [10]. For the Brayton cycle, a heat
PUTRAJAYA POWER PLANT exchanger can be placed between the hot gases
leaving the turbine and the cooler gases leaving the
Regenerated gas turbines can increase efficiency 5- compressor (see Figure 3).
6% and are even more effective in improved part
33 Alhassan Salami Tijani & Mohd Rashid Halim / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 76:5 (2015) 31–35

Figure3 Schematic diagram of regenerative Brayton cycle [8]

4.0 THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF THE BRAYTON The work developed by turbine after installing
CYCLE IS DEFINED as ηth, Brayton regenerator is [11]:
Wt = C pg T4 ηT [1- ] (6)
Applying the first law of thermodynamics for the
Brayton cycle, the thermal efficiecy of the cycle can
be expressed as [11]: Wnet = C pg T4 ηT [1- ] – Cpa T1 [ ] (7)

ηth, Brayton= = 1- (1) The Power Output is, Power = ṁ x Wnet (8)

Upon derivation η th, Brayton = 1- (2) Properties used in calculations.

Cpa = 1.005 kJ/kg.K (specific heat for air)
Where the pressure ratio is rp = (3) Cpg = 1.15 kJ/kg.K (specific heat for gas)
Kair = 1.4, Kgas = 1.33 (specific heat ratio)

As part of the aim to improve the performance of the

power plant under study, an alternative model with a 5.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
heat exchanger (regenerator) was studied. For ideal
gases using the cold-air-standard assumption with This paper focuses on a real open cycle gas power
constant specific heats, the regenerator plant at Putrajaya. Raw data such as compressor
effectiveness regen becomes [11]: inlet temperature were carefully taken and recorded
for the purpose of evaluating the thermodynamic
 (4)
models. Table 1 shows some of the data and the
Upon derivation the thermal efficiency becomes results of numerical calculations.
ηth, regen = 1 – ( (rp)(k-1)/k (5)

Table 1 Actual plant data and calculation results from Putrajaya Power Plant

Inlet Thermal Pressure Turbine Inlet Effectiveness/ Thermal

Temperature, efficiency, Ratio, rp temperature Thermal Ratio Efficiency, Regen
T1 (K) Brayton (%) T3 (K) ( (%)
300.90 30.7 3.6 789.44 0.59 45.0
305.30 30.7 3.6 791.51 0.59 44.0
303.70 30.9 3.64 782.19 0.58 44.0
298.90 31.0 3.67 786.17 0.59 45.0
301.90 31.2 3.7 780.70 0.58 44.0
306.80 31.3 3.72 782.48 0.58 43.0
302.80 31.6 3.77 778.99 0.58 43.0
34 Alhassan Salami Tijani & Mohd Rashid Halim / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 76:5 (2015) 31–35

After modification of the current cycle at Putrajaya Effectiveness/ Thermal Ratio,  = 0.58, Thermal
Power Plant with regeneration, the efficiency of Efficiency, ηth, regen = 44.0 %
regenerative was observed to be higher. At So, the average value of the efficiency with
compressor inlet temperature of 298.90K, thermal regenerative cycle is 44.0 %
efficiency of 31 % was observed for the existing or
current cycle while the modified configuration 5.1 Effect of Compressor Inlet Temperature on
yielded thermal efficiency of 45 %, which is a 14 % Thermal Efficiency of Regenerative Cycle
increase in thermal efficiency. Taking the average
values of the results in Table 2, the following Sensitivity analysis was carried out to study the effect
observations were made: of compressor inlet temperature on the system
Inlet Temperature, T1 = 303K output. Figure 4 and 5 shown that when the inlet
Thermal efficiency for Current cycle, ηth,Brayton temperature decreased, the thermal efficiency
= 31.06 % increased while the regenerative effectiveness
Pressure Ratio, rp = 3.67, T2 = 439K, where T2s = 343K , T3 increased. It is observed that the thermal efficiency is
= 784.50 K higher for regenerative cycle.

Figure 4 Inlet Temperature Vs Efficiency of Regenerative Cycle

Figure 5 Inlet Temperature Vs Regenerative Effectiveness

Table 2 shows the result after calculation of the pressure ratio of 7 is 43.06 and 56% for the current
thermal efficiency and pressure ratio. It shows that cycle and the regenerative cycle respectively.
both parameters increase considerably. Figure 6
shows the range of pressure ratio over which the
cycle can operate and also the optimized value of
efficiency. At pressure ratio of 3.67, thermal efficiency
of about 31.06% and 44% was recorded for the
current cycle and regenerative cycle respectively.
The efficiency of both cycles increase considerably
with increase in pressure ratio, but at pressure ratio of
about 7, only a small increase in efficiency for both
cycles was observed. The optimum value of the
efficiencies for both cycles that correspond to
 35 Alhassan Salami Tijani & Mohd Rashid Halim / Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences & Engineering) 76:5 (2015) 31–35

Table 2 Actual plant data and calculation results from Putrajaya Power Plant

Thermal efficiency, Current cycle Pressure Ratio, Thermal efficiency, Regen (%)
Brayton (%) rp

31.06 3.67 44
33.06 4.07 46
35.06 4.52 48
37.06 5.05 50
39.06 5.65 52
41.06 6.35 54
43.06 7.16 56
45.06 8.12 58
47.06 9.24 60
49.06 10.58 62

Figure 6 Thermal Efficiency Vs Pressure Ratio

6.0 CONCLUSION [4] M. J. Moran, and H. N. Shapiro. 2008. Fundamentals of

Engineering Thermodynamics. New York: John Wiley &
Sons, INC.
In this study the estimation of thermal efficiency of [5] Zhang, W., Chen, L. and Sun, F. 2009. Power and
the regenerative cycle shows a considerable Efficiency Optimization for Combined Brayton and Inverse
improvement over the existing cycle, this is due to the Brayton Cycles. Applied Thermal Engineering. 29: 2885-
heat exchanger used to recover waste heat from the 2894.
[6] Sanjay, A. Mukul., Rajay. 2009. Energy and Exergy Analysis
turbine exhaust. For this analysis it is therefore of Brayton-Diesel Cycle. Proceedings of the World
recommended that Putrajaya Power Station should Congress on Engineering 2009. II, July 1 - 3, 2009, London,
modify to include generative equipment As a U.K.
consequence, we hope that the results of the study [7] Ziviani, D., Beyene, A. and Venturini, M. 2014. Advances
will be helpful for the performance analysis by and Challenges in ORC Systems Modeling for Low Grade
Thermal Energy Recovery. Applied Energy. 121: 79-95.
Putrajaya Power Station. [8] Durmusoglu, Y. and Ust, Y. 2014. Thermodynamic
Optimization of an Irreversible Regenerative Closed
Brayton Cycle Based on Thermoeconomic Performance
Criterion. Applied Mathematical Modelling. 38: 5174-5186.
References [9] Toffolo, A. Lazzaretto, G. Manente, and M. Paci. 2014. A
Multi-criteria Approach for the Optimal Selection of
[1] P.K. Nag. 2008. Power Plant Engineering. New Delhi: Tata Working Fluid and Design Parameters in Organic Rankine
McGraw Hill Publishing Company Limited. Cycle Systems. Applied Energy. 121: 219-232.
[2] Farzaneh-Gord, M. and Deymi-Dashtebayaz, M. 2009. A [10] Lee, S., Langston and George Opdyke Jr. 1997.
New Approach for Enhancing Performance of a Gas Introduction to Gas Turbines for Non-Engineers. Published
Turbine (Case Study: Khangiran Refinery). Applied Energy. in the Global Gas Turbine News. 37( 2).
86: 2750-2759. [11] A. Yunus, Cengel, Michael A. Boles. 2014.
[3] H. Saravanamuttoo, G. Rogers, H. Cohen, and P. Thermodynamics-An Engineering Approach. 8th Edition.
Straznicky. 2009. Gas Turbine Theory. England: Prentice McGraw-Hill.
Hall.

View publication stats