Thermodynamic and Techno-Economic Analyses of a Combined Cycle Power Plant With a Simple Cycle Gas Turbine, the Bottoming Air Turbine Cycle and the Reverse Brayton Cycle

Abstract

The modem combined cycle power plants achieved thermal efficiency of 50–55% by applying bottoming multistage Rankine steam cycle. At the same time, the Brayton cycle is an attractive option for a bottoming cycle engine. In the author’s US Patent No. 5,442,904 is described a combined cycle system with a simple cycle gas turbine, the bottoming air turbine Brayton cycle, and the reverse Brayton cycle. In this system, air turbine Brayton cycle produces mechanic power using exergy of gas turbine exhaust gases, while the reverse Brayton cycle refrigerates gas turbine inlet air. Using this system, supercharging of gas turbine compressor becomes possible. In the paper, thermodynamic optimization of the system is done, and the system techno-economic characteristics are evaluated.