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U.S. Department of Energy
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Analysis of steam injected gas turbines for solar thermal applications

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6197225

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Solar Thermal Program has as one of its program elements the development and evaluation of heat engine technologies which are applicable to Distributed Receiver Systems. The primary research and development activities, for the past several years, have involved the so-called dish-electric concept in which a heat engine, solar receiver, and generator are combined as a Power Conversion Assembly (PCA) and mounted at the focus of a parabolic dish concentrator. PCA's based on Rankine, Brayton, and Stirling cycle heat engines have been designed and built at 10 to 25 kWe power levels with varying degrees of success. The small Brayton cycle engines in particular have fallen short of expectations as a focal mounted PCA. This report will analyze larger Brayton engines (500 kWe and above) supplied with fossil energy and solar energy from an array of 15 m diameter parabolic dishes or small central receivers. In particular, a stress injected gas turbine (STIG) cycle will be examined because of its ability to offer high efficiencies. This report outlines quantitatively the cycle parameters which effect efficiency for a solar augmented steam injected gas turbine.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6197225
Report Number(s):
SAND-86-1959C; CONF-870804-3-Draft; ON: DE87009846
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English