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Analysis of steam injected gas turbines for solar thermal applications

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6962487· OSTI ID:6962487

The Department of Energy's (DOE) Solar Thermal Program has as one of its program elements the development and evaluation of heat engine technologies that are applicable to Distributed Receiver Systems. The primary research and development activities, for the past several years, have involved the 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. PCAs based on Rankine, Brayton, and Stirling cycle heat engines have been designed and built at 10/endash/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 analyzes larger Brayton engines (500 kWe and above) supplied with fossil fuel and solar energy from 15-m diameter parabolic dishes or small central receivers. In particular, a steam injected gas turbine (STIG) cycle is examined because of its ability to offer higher efficiencies as compared to the combined cycle, regenerative Brayton cycle, and water injected Brayton cycle. This report outlines quantitatively the cycle parameters that affect efficiency for a solar-augmented steam-injected gas turbine. 15 refs., 18 figs., 2 tabs.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
6962487
Report Number(s):
SAND88-1249; ON: DE88014191
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English