Performance optimization for an open-cycle gas turbine power plant with a refrigeration cycle for compressor inlet air cooling. Part 2: power and efficiency optimization

The power and efficiency of the open cycle gas turbine power plant with a refrigeration cycle for compressor inlet air cooling with pressure drop irreversibilities are optimized based on the model established using finite time thermodynamics in Part 1 of this article by adjusting the mass flowrate (or the distribution of pressure losses along the flow path). It is shown that there are optimal air mass flowrates (or the distribution of pressure losses along the flow path) that maximize the net power output, and the maximum has additional maximum with respect to the compressor overall pressure ratio. When optimization is performed with the constraints of the fixed fuel flow and the plant size, the net power output and the thermal conversion efficiency of the cycle can be maximized again by properly allocating the fixed flow area among the compressor inlet and the power turbine outlet. The numerical examples show the effects of design parameters on the power output and heat conversion efficiency. The net power output and the thermal conversion efficiency are improved by using the refrigeration cycle for compressor air inlet cooling.