Ecological performance optimisation for an open-cycle ICR gas turbine power plant Part 1 - thermodynamic modelling

Considering the flow processes of the working fluid with the pressure drops, a thermodynamic model for open cycle intercooled and regenerated gas turbine power plant is established using finite time thermodynamics in Part 1 of this article. The flow processes of the working fluid with the pressure drops of the working fluid and the size constraints of the real power plant are modelled. There are 19 flow resistances encountered by the working fluid for the cycle model. Five of these, the frictions through the blades, vanes of the compressors and the turbines, are related to the isentropic efficiencies. Three of these, the frictions through the intercooler and the regenerator, are related to the effectiveness of the heat exchangers. The remaining flow resistances are always present because of the changes in the flow cross-section at the compressor inlets and outlets, the intercooler inlet and outlet, the regenerator inlet and outlet, the combustion chamber inlet and outlet, and the turbine inlets and outlets. These resistances which are associated with the flow through various cross-sectional areas are derived as functions of the low pressure compressor inlet relative pressure drop. The analytical formula about the ecological performance is derived with the 19 pressure drop losses. The numerical examples show that the dimensionless ecological performance reaches its maximum value at the optimal values of the intercooling pressure ratio and the low pressure compressor inlet relative pressure drop.