Two prior papers and several patents have considered improvements to a gas turbine engine’s cycle efficiency by using two turbines in series with an intermediate heat exchanger that preheats combustion air. This approach allows heating the combustion air to temperatures higher than those that can be achieved with “conventional regeneration” in which the combustion products are fully expanded across a turbine before any heat recovery. Since heat addition in the combustor of the “alternative regeneration” cycle occurs at a higher average temperature, then under certain conditions the cycle efficiency can be higher than that available from a cycle using conventional regeneration. This paper reconsiders the usefulness of the alternative regeneration cycle with more detailed modeling than has been presented previously. The revised modeling shows that the alternative regeneration cycle can produce efficiencies higher than conventional regeneration, but only for a more limited set of conditions than previously reported. For high-technology engines operating at high temperatures, the alternative regeneration cycle efficiencies can be three to four percentage points better than comparable conventional regeneration cycles. For lower-technology engines, which are more typical of those currently installed, improvements in efficiency only occur at lower values of heat exchanger effectiveness, which limits the usefulness of the alternative regeneration cycle. Also considered is an extension to the cycle that employs a second heat exchanger downstream of the second turbine for the purpose of further preheating the combustion air. In its optimum configuration, this “staged heat recovery” can produce additional small improvements of between 0.3 and 2.3 percentage points in cycle efficiency, depending on the particular cycle parameters assumed.
Skip Nav Destination
e-mail: pad@uwyo.edu
Article navigation
October 2006
Technical Papers
A Reassessment of the Alternative Regeneration Cycle
Paul A. Dellenback
Paul A. Dellenback
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
e-mail: pad@uwyo.edu
University of Wyoming
, Laramie, WY 82072-3295
Search for other works by this author on:
Paul A. Dellenback
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Wyoming
, Laramie, WY 82072-3295e-mail: pad@uwyo.edu
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Oct 2006, 128(4): 783-788 (6 pages)
Published Online: August 19, 2005
Article history
Received:
March 9, 2004
Revised:
August 19, 2005
Citation
Dellenback, P. A. (August 19, 2005). "A Reassessment of the Alternative Regeneration Cycle." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. October 2006; 128(4): 783–788. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2179079
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Temperature Dependence of Aerated Turbine Lubricating Oil Degradation from a Lab-Scale Test Rig
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Multi-Disciplinary Surrogate-Based Optimization of a Compressor Rotor Blade Considering Ice Impact
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Experimental Investigations on Carbon Segmented Seals With Smooth and Pocketed Pads
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Related Articles
Different Configurations of Exhaust Gas Heat Recovery in Internal Combustion Engine: Evaluation on Different Driving Cycles Using Numerical Simulations
J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl (August,2018)
An Immersed Particle Heat Exchanger for Externally Fired and Heat Recovery Gas Turbines
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (March,2011)
Two-Dimensional Effects on the Response of Packed Bed Regenerators
J. Heat Transfer (May,1989)
Comparative Study of Two Low C O 2 Emission Power Generation System Options With Natural Gas Reforming
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (September,2008)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Threshold Functions
Closed-Cycle Gas Turbines: Operating Experience and Future Potential
Experimental Study on Heat Pipe Heat Exchanger for Heat Recovery in Room Ventilation
Inaugural US-EU-China Thermophysics Conference-Renewable Energy 2009 (UECTC 2009 Proceedings)
Scope
Consensus on Operating Practices for the Control of Feedwater and Boiler Water Chemistry in Modern Industrial Boilers (CRTD 34)