Optimization of Efficiency and Sustainability in Existing Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine Power Plant

The roadmap for meeting the targets for greenhouse gas emissions in Spain between shows a rise in emissions and an excess of 54 MtCO2,,, over the desired amount. It is therefore essential to propose additional measures that would allow Spain to grow and, at the same time, to reduce emissions to comply Horizon 2020. The existing combined cycles, currently one of the least polluting technologies, must adapt to new operating conditions imposed by operators by minimizing their emissions to the atmosphere and ensuring their sustainability in the coming years. A study of Sustainability and environmental and techno-economic impact has been carried out by applying technological improvements in energetic efficiency, inside the existing Combined -Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT), such as the hybridization of solar thermal energy with partial regeneration in the gas turbine. Regeneration contributes to increasing efficiencies around 2.25% to 3.29% and reduction of fuel consumption would represent 8% implying a significant saving of 4 million &year approximately. There is a loss of the net power of the new cycle, but it is considerably lower if heat from a renewable source is supplied to the steam cycle. This net power loss has an average value of 7.5% with only regeneration and a value of 1% with regeneration and hybridization. In conclusion, partial regeneration with solar hybridization provides an interesting and proven possibility to improve performance, efficiency and possibility of reducing emissions, 26167 Ton/year tbr a 400 Mw, in the existing combined cycles.