Gas turbine cogeneration systems: a review of some novel cycles

The gas turbine engine is known to have a number of attractive features, principally: low capital cost, compact size, short delivery, high flexibility and reliability, fast starting and loading, lower manpower operating needs and better environmental performance, in relation to other prime movers, especially the steam turbine plant, with which it competes. However, it suffers from limited efficiency, especially at part load. Cogeneration, on the other hand, is a simultaneous production of power and thermal energy when the otherwise wasted energy in the exhaust gases is utilised. Hence, cogeneration with gas turbines utilises the engine's relative merits and boosts its thermal efficiency. Thereby, the worldwide concern about the cost and efficient use of energy is going to provide continuing opportunities, for gas turbine cogeneration systems, in power and industry. In this work, ten research investigations carried out by the author and associates during the last ten years in the field of gas turbine cogeneration in power and industry are reviewed briefly. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.