10/9/2017 Combined Cycle GTW Specs

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Tradeoffs and correction factors for

Combined Cycle specs
Apply the following "rule of thumb" factors for evaluating the likely impact of
OEM design tradeoffs on rated combined cycle performance:

Ambient temp. There is about a 2.5% reduction in power output from ISO rating
per 10F rise in air temperature above 59F and a corresponding increase in
capacity with decreasing ambient temperatures below 59F. Impact on heat rate
(up and down, respectively) is about 0.5% per 10F change in air temperature.

Water temp. Cooling water temperature impacts steam condenser vacuum and,
thereby, steam turbine power output. For plants operating in hot climates there can
be a 2% reduction in plant capacity and a corresponding 2% rise in heat rate if
effective cooling water temperatures increase 25F-30F above ISO design
conditions.

Plant ageing. Over an extended period of operation (10-15 years) plant capacity
will typically have decreased from its as-new rating by approximately 3-5% and
heat rate increased by 3-5% despite regular maintenance and plant overhauls.

Compressor fouling. For every inch of outlet pressure drop, you can expect a
0.15% reduction in power and 0.1% increase in heat rate.

What you should know about OEM design ratings

Combined cycle plant ratings in the 2014 GTW Performance specs are based on new-
and-clean performance of OEM reference plant designs operating on natural gas fuel
at ISO standard conditions: 59F (15C) ambient temperature, 14.7 psia (1.015 bar)
sea level and 60% relative humidity.

Performance is based on multi-pressure and reheat (where applicable) HRSG designs

without supplementary duct firing, without selective catalytic reduction for emissions
control, and without water or steam injection for power augmentation or emissions
abatement.

Plant cooling is typically via wet cooling tower.

Unlike the case of simple cycle gas turbine performance data, there are no agreed-
upon international standards for defining combined cycle performance.

It is to be expected, therefore, that there are some OEM-assumed design and

operating variables, be they conservative or aggressive, that will come into play when
making use of specific OEM data or attempting to level the playing field for an apples-
to-apples comparison between alternatives.

Net vs. gross

For example, most OEMs correctly specify net plant performance defined as gross
power output (sum of outputs measured at generator terminals) less all parasitic power ORDER NOW!
loads.

However, care must be taken as some OEMs specify the net performance of the
power island alone, ignoring power consumption of the balance of plant equipment
and systems.

To help with this potential difference in assumptions, GTW combined cycle

performance specs also provide data on gross output ratings of the gas turbine and
steam turbine generators.

The difference between the sum of generator outputs and combined cycle rating should
reflect the power consumed by plant auxiliaries such as the boiler feed, condensate
and cooling water circulating pumps, cooling fans, electrical auxiliaries, (up to main
step-up transformer) etc.

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10/9/2017 Combined Cycle GTW Specs

In total, these could consume around 2% or more of a plants gross output.

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Condenser vacuum
As noted (see box above) cooling water temperature impacts combined cycle
performance by impacting steam turbine output via its effect on condenser vacuum
pressure. (Lower vacuum pressure increases steam turbine power, reducing plant heat
rate, and visa versa.)

Yet there is currently no agreed-upon standard for coolant temperature or condenser

design parameters (e.g. approach temperature difference) when specifying combined
cycle plant performance.

The GTW 2014 Performance Specs provide condenser pressure data where made
available by the OEMs. As shown in the design ratings the spread in this data ranges
from a high of 1.9 inch Hg (6.4 kPa) at the conservative end of the spectrum to a low of
1.0 inch Hg (3.4 kPa) as the most optimistic.

Based on corresponding condenser (i.e. steam saturation) temperatures, this range in

assumed vacuum pressure reflects a range in assumed cooling water temperatures of
about 20F.

Impact on performance
For an apples-to-apples evaluation some adjustment to the data is necessary when
such differences are noted.

An approximate rule of thumb: a decrease of 0.5 inch Hg (1.7 kPa) in vacuum

pressure results in about 0.5% increase in plant power output and a similar decrease
in plant heat rate.

For plants with an air-cooled condenser and vacuum pressure in the range of 5 inch
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Hg or higher, the plant output will decrease (and heat rate increase) by 3% or more
from the ISO rating, depending on ambient air temperature

Other areas where inconsistencies in the performance data may arise are in the
selection of reasonable power island equipment design parameters (such as HRSG
approach temperature differences and pinch point) and in main throttle and reheat
steam temperatures and pressures. Again, the OEM data for steam conditions are
provided where available.

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Ageing
Both overall combined cycle plant capacity and heat rate are subject to ageing,
predominantly due to degradation of gas turbine performance over long operating
periods despite regular maintenance and plant overhauls.

Other areas where normal wear and tear or fouling can cause degradation in
performance include the steam turbine flow surfaces and seals, heat transfer surfaces,
particularly in the HRSG, the cooling tower (often due to algae growth), filters, piping,
etc.

Typically, over a period of 15 years (120,000 operating hours) capacity will have
decreased by approximately 3% and heat rate will have increased by about 1.5%.

PAGES 1 2

Gas Turbine World 2017 Pequot Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.
PO Box 447 Reproduction without written permission strictly prohibited.
Southport, CT 06890 USA

Telephone: 203.259.1812
orders@gasturbineworld.com

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