Gas-Turbine Power Plants for Operation With Low-Cost Fuel Available to Purchase

This paper presents a discussion of the economics and general design requirements of gas-turbine power plants to be operated with low-cost fuel, such as natural gas and crude oil in the oil fields, refinery by-products, and by-product gases from industrial processes. It is pointed out that factors affecting first cost become relatively more important than those affecting efficiency as fuel cost decreases. When fuel cost is very low, water injection may well be considered if a suitable supply of water is available. Brief mention is made of the flow-type turbine power plant with preheated gas, which is a special case of the combustion-gas-turbine power plant. Approximate costs of these flow-type turbine power plants are given.