Effect of Bottoming Cycle Alternatives on the Performance of Combined Cycle

The increase in efficiency of combined cycle has mainly been caused by the improvements in gas turbine cycle efficiency. With the increase in firing temperature the exhaust temperature is substantially high around 873 K for moderate compressor pressure ratio, which has positive influence on steam cycle efficiency. Minimizing the irreversibility within the heat recovery steam generator HRSG and choosing proper steam cycle configuration with optimized steam parameters improve the steam cycle efficiency and thus in turn the combined cycle efficiency. In this paper, LM9001H gas turbine, a state of art technology turbine with modified compressor pressure ratio has been chosen as a topping cycle. Various bottoming cycles alternatives (sub-critical) coupled with LM9001H topping cycle with and without recuperation such as dual and triple pressure steam cycles with and without reheat have been chosen to predict the performance of combined cycle.