Tutorial-3

Power Plant Engineering

Submitted To Submitted By
Mr. Kamlesh Sir Anurag Raj
Roll No. 160970104007
ME 4th Year
Q1) What are the main units in a gas turbine power plant?

Ans. Gas turbines are comprised of three primary sections mounted on the same shaft: the
compressor, the combustion chamber (or combustor) and the turbine.

1. Compressor

The compressor can be either axial flow or centrifugal flow. Axial flow compressors are
more common in power generation because they have higher flow rates and efficiencies.
Axial flow compressors are comprised of multiple stages of rotating and stationary blades
(or stators) through which air is drawn in parallel to the axis of rotation and incrementally
compressed as it passes through each stage. The acceleration of the air through the rotating
blades and diffusion by the stators increases the pressure and reduces the volume of the air.
Although no heat is added, the compression of the air also causes the temperature to
increase. The compressed air is mixed with fuel injected through nozzles. The fuel and
compressed air can be pre-mixed or the compressed air can be introduced directly into the
combustor.

2. Combustion chamber

Air leaving the compressor must first be slowed down and then split into two streams. The
smaller stream is fed centrally into a region where atomized fuel is injected and burned with
a flame held in place by a turbulence-generating obstruction. The larger, cooler stream is
then fed into the chamber through holes along a “combustion liner” (a sort of shell) to
reduce the overall temperature to a level suitable for the turbine inlet. Combustion can be
carried out in a series of nearly cylindrical elements spaced around the circumference of the
engine called cans, or in a single annular passage with fuel-injection nozzles at various
circumferential positions. The difficulty of achieving nearly uniform exit-temperature
distributions in a short combustion chamber can be alleviated in stationary applications by
longer chambers with partial internal reversed flow.

3. Turbine

The fuel-air mixture ignites under constant pressure conditions and the hot combustion
products (gases) are directed through the turbine where it expands rapidly and imparts
rotation to the shaft. The turbine is also comprised of stages, each with a row of stationary
blades (or nozzles) to direct the expanding gases followed by a row of moving blades. The
rotation of the shaft drives the compressor to draw in and compress more air to sustain
continuous combustion. The remaining shaft power is used to drive a generator which
produces electricity. Approximately 55 to 65 percent of the power produced by the turbine
is used to drive the compressor. To optimize the transfer of kinetic energy from the
combustion gases to shaft rotation, gas turbines can have multiple compressor and turbine
stages.

Q.2) Explain with the help of a block diagram the fuel storage and supply system of diesel
power plant.

Ans.

It consists of Fuel Storage Tank, Fuel Filter or Strainer, Fuel Transfer Pump, Day Tank,
Heaters & Connecting Pipes. First up all with the help of transportation facility available
(road, rail etc.) the diesel fuel stored in storage tank. Then this diesel fuel transfer to day
tank, the function of day tank is how much quantity of diesel required for 24 hours is store.
If the day tank is full or overflow occurs, then excessive diesel returned to storage tank. The
filter or strainer is used to purify diesel. With the help of fuel transfer pump the diesel is
transfer to day tank.
Q.3) Explain with the help of a block diagram the water cooling system of diesel power
plant.

Ans.

The Diesel Engine Cooling System Consist of coolant pumps, water cooling towers or spray
pond, water treatment or filtration plant & Connecting Pipe Works.

The heat produced due to internal combustion, drives the engine. But some parts of this
heat raise the temperature of different parts of the engine. High temperature may cause
permanent damage to the machine. Hence, it is essential to maintain the overall
temperature of the engine to a tolerable level. Cooling system of diesel power station does
exactly so. The cooling system is required to carry heat from diesel engine to keep its
temperature within safe limits. The water pump circulates water to cylinder of diesel engine
to carry away the heat. The cooling tower is used for the same water reused.

The cooling system requires a water source, water pump and cooling towers. The pump
circulates water through cylinder and head jacket. The water takes away heat from the
engine and it becomes hot. The hot water is cooled by cooling towers and is re-circulated for
cooling.

Q.4) Mention the advantages and disadvantages of a diesel power plant over a gas turbine
power plant.

Ans.
  The Advantages are:

The Gas turbine power plant

1. Has poor part load efficiency.

2. High air rate, and open cycle gas turbine is not suitable for marine application.

3. It is very much sensitive to compressor and turbine efficiencies.

 The disadvantages are:

The gas turbine power plant are

1. Well balanced because reciprocating masses are not present.

2. Better mechanical efficiency. This is because there are no sliding parts where friction
power is present. Only bearing loss is present.

3. Greater capacity.

4. Specific weight is lower and hence the size is smaller for the same capacity.

5. Cheaper fuel can be used. Even solid fuels like pulverized coal can be used.

6. It requires less lubrication.

7. It has higher operating speed.

8. Smokeless exhaust.

9. Comparatively it works silently because of continuous exhaust.

10. Can be used in jet propulsion system because of the continuous exhaust.

11. Modifications in the Joules or Brayton simple cycle are possible, namely, reheating,
regenerative and intercooling arrangements can be added to increase output and efficiency.

12. Lower inlet temperature of air which increases the efficiency of the system.

Q.5) With a neat sketch explain the working of a simple constant pressure gas turbine.

Ans.
This gas turbine works on Joule or Brayton cycle. Constant Pressure Cycle is Joule cycle.
Generally, standard cycle for gas turbine working on constant pressure cycle is Joule cycle
and here mass of fuel is generally [Link] Brayton cycle analysis, mass of fuel is-taken
into consideration.

Many times, Joules cycle and Brayton cycle are taken as identical. Air continuously enters
the compressor from atmosphere at P1, v1 and T1. This state is shown on diagram by 1. The
compressor may be of axial or centrifugal type. Air is compressed isentropically to state 2
given by P2, v2, T2. This process of compression is shown by 1-2 on P-V and T-S diagrams.

After compression, air enters the combustion chamber in the open-cycle. Some of this air
goes around the outside of the combustor proper and some supplies oxygen for burning the
fuel which is continuously injected as shown in Fig. Both these streams mix together so that
the temperature of the gases formed is within the limits required for the gas turbine inlet.

Here the combustion is continuous and takes place at constant pressure. This is shown by 2-
3 in Fig. (a) and (b). Temperature of the gases increases and the temperature of these gases
entering the turbine is the maximum temperature that can be sustained by the turbine
blades. This maximum temperature that is acceptable to the blade material is known as
ceiling temperature.

Gas at the state 3 expands isentropically through the turbine and this expansion is
represented by 3-4 as shown in Fig. This expansion is complete expansion upto atmospheric
pressure as against an expansion in an IC Engine and is an incomplete expansion.

After the expansion, gases will be exhausted—in open cycle—to the atmosphere in
condition 4. During this process, the heat is rejected to the atmosphere. This rejection of
heat takes place at constant pressure. This process is represented by 4-1 on P-v and T-S
diagrams of Fig. Thus the cycle is complete.

Q.6) Mention its advantages and disadvantages.

Ans. Advantages and Disadvantages of Closed Cycle Gas Turbine:

(a) Advantages:

1. The working of this cycle is not dependent on the atmospheric pressure and therefore
any pressure can be used so that the specific output of the plant can be increased. By using
high pressure, the sizes of the components are reduced.

2. We can use any gas with favourable properties. Helium and helium-carbon dioxide
mixture gives high efficiencies and smaller components. It is highly suitable for nuclear
plants.

3. When helium is used, then other alternative materials can be used as no oxidation occurs
with these inert gases.

4. The turbine blades are not fouled by the products of combustion.

5. Regulation of the closed cycle gas turbine is simpler.

6. Low thermal stresses exist because of the constant temperatures at all loads.

7. As the working substance or fluid does not come in contact with the fuel or products of
combustion, very low quality fuel can be used. Any kind or type of the fuel – solid, liquid,
and gases and even nuclear can be used.

(b) Disadvantages:

1. Strong heat exchanger will be required if the high pressures are utilized at the inlet of the
compressor.

2. Poor combustion efficiency and poor heat transfer results because of the indirect type of
heat exchanger.

3. Because air heater and coolers are used the cost of the plant increases. Also the total
plant becomes heavy. Due to all these factors, the cost of the plant is more than that of
open type.

4. A coolant is required for pre-cooler and is a disadvantage as compared to an open cycle.

Q.7) Give the classification of gas turbine power plants.

Ans. Gas turbines might be mostly classified as:

i. Open Cycle Gas Turbine

ii. Closed Cycle Gas Turbine

1) Open Cycle Gas Turbine

Open cycle gas turbine, air is strained into compressor as of the atmosphere. Compressed
air is intense with directly flaming the fuel in air at stable pressure within the combustion
chamber. High pressure hot gases as of combustion chamber drive turbine with the power is
develop as the turbine shaft rotate. The gas turbines are not character starting. Starting
motor take the compressor till fuel is inject in the combustion chamber, one time the
turbine starts fast speed the starting motor is detached. Piece of power develop through the
gas turbine (about 60%) is use to drive compressor with the remain is use to drive a
generator or other mechanism. In open cycle the working fluid specifically air with the fuel
has to be change constantly as they are exhausted into atmosphere. Therefore the entire
flow comes as of atmosphere with is return to the atmosphere, thus it is call open cycle.

2) Closed Cycle Gas Turbine

In Closed cycle the dense air as of the atmosphere is excited in air heater (heat exchanger).
Heat is added to air heater as of various outside sources (oil or coal) at stable pressure. High
pressure work fluids increase through turbine with power is developing. The exhaust work
fluid is chilled in a precooler before the similar fluid is sent into compressor again. Closed
cycle gas turbine the similar working fluid is constantly circulated. The fuel required for
addition heat as of an external source can several fuels range as of kerosene, to heavy oil
with even peat and coal slurry with no reducing efficiency.

Q.8) A simple open cycle gas turbine plant works between the pressures of 1 bar and 6 bar
and temperatures of 300 K and 1023 K. The calorific value of the fuel used is 42MJ/kg.

Find:

i.) air fuel ratio

ii.) Thermal efficiency of the plant if the mechanical and generating efficiencies are 95%
and 97% respectively. Assume air flow = 20 kg/s and compression and expansion are
isentropic?

Ans. P 1 2 T 3

p=c 4

1 2

V S×

P1 = P4 = 1 bar T1= 300k

P2 = P3 = 6 bar T3= 1023k

Cv= 42MJ/kg ma= 20kg/s ƞm= 95% ƞe= 97%

Thermal Power produced by combustion of fuel = mf × Cv = 42mf

Thermal efficiency = 1-1/6.628 = 0.4006 = 40.06%

Total efficiency of electrical power transformation is.

Ƞtotal = ƞm × ƞe × ƞt

= 0.95×0.97×0.4006

= 0.3691

=36.91%

T2=T1 ×1.6685 = 300×1.6685 = 500k

Energy balance in a combustion chamber gives,

mf= 525092×20/41474908= 0.25kg/s

Air fule ratio = ma /mf = 20/0.25= 80

Q.9) List the advantages of diesel power plants over other thermal power plants.

1. Diesel power plant design is simple for installation.

2. The layout of the diesel power plant is quite simple.
3. The limited quantity of cooling water required.
4. Standby losses are very less as compared to other Power plants.
5. Low fuel cost for operation.
6. Smaller storage is needed for the fuel.
7. There is no problem of ash handling.
8. Less time monitoring is sufficient required.
9. For small capacity power generation, diesel power plant is more efficient than
the steam power plant.
10. Quickly started and put on load.
11. They can respond to varying loads without having any difficulty.