An Inquisition on the Combined Effects of Ambient Temperature and Relative Humidity on The Performance of a Uniform Speed Single Shaft Gas Turbine in Tropical Monsoon Climate, using GPAL

This paper investigates the combined effects of Ambient Temperature and Relative Humidity on the performance of a uniform speed single shaft Gas Turbine, sited in Tropical Monsoon climate. A single shaft gas turbine simulator (known as GPAL) from Gas path Analysis ltd was employed. The City of Portharcourt, Nigeria, was chosen to represent the tropical monsoon climate, with its climatic data of monthly ambient temperature and relative humidity obtained from Koppen. With parameters like speed, reference power, inlet and exhaust losses kept constant, the ambient temperature and relative humidity were continually varied according to their climatic values. Each time, the performance of the gas turbine was simulated and parameters such as; Efficiency, Turbine power and Net power output, Turbine inlet Temperature and Exhaust Gas Temperature, as well as Specific fuel consumption were monitored. The environmental impact of the gas turbine was equally assessed in terms of Carbon (IV) Oxide (CO2) emission in Tonnes/day and in Kg/MWhr, NOX emission and Carbon Monoxide (CO) emission. The results of the study indicate that it is most efficient and productive to operate the gas turbine in Portharcourt in the months of January and December whereas it is least efficient in the month of April. Whereas CO emission was relatively low and uniform throughout the year, the highest specific fuel consumption was recorded in April.