An evaluation of thermal energy storage options for precooling gas turbine inlet air
Several approaches have been used to reduce the temperature of gas turbine inlet air. One of the most successful uses off-peak electric power to drive vapor-compression-cycle ice makers. The ice is stored until the next time high ambient temperature is encountered, when the ice is used in a heat exchanger to cool the gas turbine inlet air. An alternative concept would use seasonal thermal energy storage to store winter chill for inlet air cooling. The objective of this study was to compare the performance and economics of seasonal thermal energy storage in aquifers with diurnal ice thermal energy storage for gas turbine inlet air cooling. The investigation consisted of developing computer codes to model the performance of a gas turbine, energy storage system, heat exchangers, and ancillary equipment. The performance models were combined with cost models to calculate unit capital costs and levelized energy costs for each concept. The levelized energy cost was calculated for three technologies in two locations (Minneapolis, Minnesota and Birmingham, Alabama). Precooling gas turbine inlet air with cold water supplied by an aquifer thermal energy storage system provided lower cost electricity than simply increasing the size of the turbine for meteorological and geological conditions existing in the Minneapolis vicinity. A 15 to 20% cost reduction resulted for both 0.05 and 0.2 annual operating factors. In contrast, ice storage precooling was found to be between 5 and 20% more expensive than larger gas turbines for the Minneapolis location. In Birmingham, aquifer thermal energy storage precooling was preferred at the higher capacity factor and ice storage precooling was the best option at the lower capacity factor. In both cases, the levelized cost was reduced by approximately 5% when compared to larger gas turbines.
- Research Organization:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC06-76RL01830
- OSTI ID:
- 6872087
- Report Number(s):
- PNL-8427; ON: DE93005980
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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25 ENERGY STORAGE
COLD STORAGE
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
GAS TURBINES
COOLING
SEASONAL THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE
ALABAMA
COST
COST ESTIMATION
DAILY VARIATIONS
GAS TURBINE POWER PLANTS
HEAT EXCHANGERS
ICE
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MINNESOTA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
EVALUATION
HEAT STORAGE
MACHINERY
NORTH AMERICA
POWER PLANTS
STORAGE
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY
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200107* - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Off-Peak Energy Storage- (1980-)
250600 - Energy Storage- Thermal