Degradation Effects on Combined Cycle Power Plant Performance: Part 3 — Gas and Steam Turbine Degradation Effects

This paper presents an investigation of the degradation effects that gas and steam turbine cycles components have on combined cycle (CCGT) power plant performance. Gas turbine component degradation effects were assessed with TurboMatch, the Cranfield Gas Turbine simulation code. A new code was developed to assess bottoming cycle performance deterioration. The two codes were then joined to simulate the combined cycle performance deterioration as a whole unit. Areas examined were gas turbine compressor and turbine degradation, HRSG degradation, steam turbine degradation, condenser degradation, and increased gas turbine back-pressure due to HRSG degradation. The procedure, assumptions made, and the results obtained are presented and discussed. The parameters that appear to have the greatest influence on degradation are the effects on the gas generator.