Conversion of an Existing Gas Turbine to an Intercooled Exhaust-Heated Coal-Burning Engine

摘要

An existing gas-turbine engine has been selected and modified on paper toaccommodate an innovative, high-efficiency thermodynamic cycle. The modified Solar 5650 industrial gas turbine burns coal in an intercooled exhaust-heated cycle for power generation. This thesis focuses on the alterations that must be made to this off-the-shelf engine and their impact on the overall performance of the engine. The conversion process involves optimizing the exhaust-heated cycle to obtain peak thermal efficiency and near-maximum specific power. Three design changes are explored to optimize the intercooled exhaust-heated 5650 cycle. The alternatives include running the intercooled exhaust-heated 5650 at a slower speed with no turbomachinery modifications, running the engine at its design pressure ratio, or redesigning all of the turbomachinery. Each of these options and a cycle modification, increased turbine-inlet temperature, are measured on performance and life-cycle-cost bases. Sizing analysis for a rotary regenerator heat exchanger and combustor recommendations for the cycle are also included.