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Energy and Environmental Analyses of a Solar–Gas Turbine Combined Cycle with Inlet Air Cooling

Author

Listed:
  • Ahmad M. Abubaker

    (Institute of Research for Technology Development (IR4TD), University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA)

  • Adnan Darwish Ahmad

    (Institute of Research for Technology Development (IR4TD), University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA)

  • Binit B. Singh

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN 55414, USA)

  • Yaman M. Manaserh

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, ES2 Center, Binghamton University-SUNY, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA)

  • Loiy Al-Ghussain

    (Energy Systems and Infrastructure Analysis Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Lemont, IL 60439, USA)

  • Nelson K. Akafuah

    (Institute of Research for Technology Development (IR4TD), University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA)

  • Kozo Saito

    (Institute of Research for Technology Development (IR4TD), University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA)

Abstract

Sensitivity to ambient air temperatures, consuming a large amount of fuel, and wasting a significant amount of heat dumped into the ambient atmosphere are three major challenges facing gas turbine power plants. This study was conducted to simultaneously solve all three aforementioned GT problems using solar energy and introducing a new configuration that consists of solar preheating and inlet-air-cooling systems. In this study, air was preheated at a combustion chamber inlet using parabolic trough collectors. Then, inlet air to the compressor was cooled by these collectors by operating an absorption cooling cycle. At the design point conditions, this novel proposed integration resulted in a 6.87% relative increase in generated power and a 10.53% relative decrement in fuel consumption, achieving a 19.45% relative increment in the plant’s thermal efficiency. This was accompanied by a reduction of 0.026 kg/s, 4.2 kg/s, and 0.278 kg/s in CO 2 , CO, and NOx emissions, respectively. Finally, spider diagrams were employed to assess the impact of the operating parameters on the overall system’s performance and its associated environmental implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Ahmad M. Abubaker & Adnan Darwish Ahmad & Binit B. Singh & Yaman M. Manaserh & Loiy Al-Ghussain & Nelson K. Akafuah & Kozo Saito, 2024. "Energy and Environmental Analyses of a Solar–Gas Turbine Combined Cycle with Inlet Air Cooling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-31, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:14:p:6229-:d:1439692
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    References listed on IDEAS

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