Enabling Combined Cycle Power Plants to Achieve Near Simple Cycle Start Capability

摘要

Many gas-fired combined cycle power plants in Europe are currently unable to be economically dispatched due to a combination of high gas prices, low power demand, and low power sale prices. Profitable operation is often only possible in real-time power markets and only when spark spreads are high, which can occur when intermittent renewable power (e.g., wind) drops off and needs to be quickly replaced. Successful operation in this time-sensitive environment requires combined cycle plant starts that are fast, reliable, and low-cost, similar to what is possible with simple cycle plants.