A Design of Pre Cooler for Gas Turbine at Garri (1&2) Power Station Using an Absorption Solar Refrigeration System

Abstract

Several gas turbines are being widely used for power generation in several countries all over the world. Obviously, many of these countries have a wide range of climatic conditions, which impact the performance of gas turbines. Problems arise when a gas turbine is used in a geographic location with hot summers. Hot inlet air results in a gas turbine’s generating less power, during summer season, when the demand for electricity is possibly higher. In such conditions, power augmentation techniques are highly desirable. Indeed, a little increment of thermal efficiency could result in a significant amount of fuel being saved and a higher level of power being generated. The climate of sudan is the semi desert climate influenced by the north-south movement of dry northerly winds and moist southerly winds that produce a wet summer and a dry winter .Due to high ambient temperature in the area at summer average of 42°C the gas turbines operate at 75% of their rated capacity at the standard ISO conditions as GE Product (the air inlet conditions are: air temperature 15 °C, relative humidity 60%, absolute pressure 101.325 kPa at sea level power out put 42MW).The objectives of this research an attempt to design a chiller that works in turn absorbed solar energy to cool the cooling medium (water) that cools the air at the inlet of the turbine to operate the gas turbine on standard conditions. Through numerical analysis, the temperature of the air entering the gas turbine dropped to 15 ° C and the power out put was increased by 40%. As well as efficiency increased to 32%.the important recommendation is Study the effect of the cooler to the related systems like steam turbine and it’s auxiliary, The design and construction of the new plants should be also take into account local environmental conditions so that the cost of the pre cooler can be included in the overall project cost.