Simulation and Energy Analysis of Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Systems (ISCCS) Using Aspen Plus
Abstract
:1. Introduction
1.1. Energy and Conversion
1.2. Thermal Power Plants
1.3. Parabolic Trough Technologies and ISCC
1.4. Using Simulation
1.5. Local Power Plant in Oman
1.6. Problem Statement, Objective, and Novelty
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Process Description
2.2. Energy Balance and Simulation
2.3. System Simulation
Aspen Plus
2.4. Sensitivity Analysis
2.4.1. Sensitivity Study 1 (Main Cycle)
- The air flow rate was controlled to keep the air-to-fuel ratio constant during the study.
- The high-pressure water going into the HP HRSG was controlled to keep the exhaust gas stream temperature constant to keep the system from failing.
- The low-pressure water going into the LP HRSG was controlled to keep the exhaust gas stream temperature constant to keep the system from failing.
- Gas Flow (kg/s).
- Heat in HP HRSG (MW).
- Heat in LP HRSG (MW).
- Steam Turbine Power (MW).
- Gas Turbine Power (MW).
- Total Power (MW).
- Water Flow Rate in HP HRSG (kg/s).
- Water Flow Rate in LP HRSG (kg/s).
2.4.2. Sensitivity Study 2 (ISCC)
- The air flow rate was controlled to keep the air to fuel ratio constant during the study.
- The high-pressure water going into the HP HRSG was controlled to keep the exhaust gas stream from LP HRSG temperature constant to keep the system from failing.
- The amount of heating fluid was controlled by only using the needed amount.
- The amount of water coming into the HFHX was controlled to always give a total power of 180 MW from the two turbines.
- Gas Flow (kg/s).
- Heat in HP HRSG (MW).
- Heat in LP HRSG (MW).
- Steam Turbine Power (MW).
- Gas Turbine Power (MW).
- Total Power (MW).
- Water Flow Rate in HP HRSG (kg/s).
- Water Flow Rate in LP HRSG (kg/s).
- Heating Fluid Flow Rate (kg/s).
- Water in HFHX Flow Rate (kg/s).
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Simulation Validation
3.2. Sensitivity Study 1: Study the Effect of Reducing the Natural Gas Flow Rate on the Main Cycle Parameters
3.3. Sensitivity Study 2: ISCC Study of the Effect of Dropping the Natural Gas Flow Rate on the ISCC
4. Conclusions
- The research indicates that the development of an integrated cycle is a promising approach to reduce CO2 emission significantly since the amount of burned NG fuel is reduced.
- It is concluded that the HFHX can be heated up by using an external parabolic trough system. This integration has advanced the power cycle towards using renewable energy sources, i.e., developing an Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC).
- The results indicate that commercial software can be used in the simulation and analysis of actual power plants, as the data were validated with insignificant errors, i.e., ranging 0.443–3.77%.
- Study 1 shows a direct relationship between the consumed natural gas flow rate and the total developed power, i.e., a reduction in the developed power happens from 180 to 84.86 MW when the natural gas flow rate was decreased from 9 to 4.2 kg/s, respectively.
- The analysis of study 2 proves that the total power output can be kept constant despite the fact that the used NG flow rate is dropped. For instance, 180 MW power was developed when the NG flow rate was reduced from 9 to 4.2 kg/s. This is achieved by adding external heat sources (HFHXs), which increase the generated steam from 72.7 kg/s to 157.31 kg/s. Therefore, the steam turbine power output was increased from 56.4 to 125 MW, respectively.
- Consideration of the turbine size should be taken in defining the natural gas flow rate.
5. Future Work
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
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Component | Model in Aspen Plus | Specifications |
---|---|---|
Air Compressor, Steam Turbine, Gas Turbine | Compressor Model (Compr) | Discharge pressure, Isentropic efficiency |
Combustion Chamber | Stoichiometric Reactor (RStoic) | Pressure, Heat Duty |
Economizer, Evaporator, Superheater, HFHX | Heat Exchanger (MHeatX) | Outlet Temperature |
Flash Drum | Flash (Flash2) | Pressure, Heat Duty |
Condenser | Heat Exchanger (Heater) | Pressure, Vapor Fraction |
Pump | Pump (Pump) | Discharge Pressure, Isentropic Efficiency |
Split | Fraction Splitter (FSplit) | Flow Rate Fraction |
Parameter | Unit | Value |
---|---|---|
Air Flow Rate | kg/s | 505.3600003 |
Incoming Air Pressure | bar | 0.9981 |
Incoming Air Temperature | °C | 26.6 |
Compressor Discharge Pressure | bar | 9.4 |
Compressor Efficiency | - | 0.883 |
Fuel Flow Rate | kg/s | 9.2 |
Fuel Pressure | bar | 22.8 |
Fuel Temperature | °C | 15.6 |
Fuel Composition | 92.47% Methane, 0.738 CO2 1.68 C3H8 0.20 i-C4H10, 0.22 n-C4H10, 0.06 i-C5H12, 0.05 n-C5H12, 3.53 N2 | |
Fuel (LHV) | KJ/kg | 43,662.14 |
Turbine Discharge Pressure | bar | 1 |
Turbine Isentropic Efficiency | - | 0.85 |
Water Flow Rate entering the HP HRSG | kg/h | 235,400 |
Water Flow Rate entering the LP HRSG | kg/h | 40,000 |
HP Eco Exhaust Temperature | °C | 263 |
HP Eva Exhaust Temperature | Vapor fraction | 1 |
HP Sup Exhaust Temperature | °C | 471.48 |
LP Eco Exhaust Temperature | °C | 169 |
LP Eva Exhaust Temperature | Vapor fraction | 1 |
LP Sup Exhaust Temperature | °C | 217 |
HP Drum Pressure | bar | 37.38 |
LP Drum Pressure | bar | 6.72 |
Steam Turbine Exhaust Pressure | bar | 0.08 |
Condenser Vapor Fraction | - | 0 |
Cooling Water Inlet Temperature | °C | 26.6 |
Cooling Water Outlet Temperature | °C | 34.5 |
Pump Discharge Pressure | bar | 21.6 |
Pump Isentropic Efficiency | - | 0.85 |
Steam Turbine Net Power | MW | 61.5 |
Gas Turbine Net Power | MW | 127 |
Heating Fluid Composition | 7%NaNO3, 53% KNO3, 40%NaNO2 | |
Heating Fluid Inlet Temperature | °C | 570 |
Heating Fluid Exhaust Temperature | °C | 240 |
Heating Fluid Pressure | bar | 100 |
Parameter | Local Plant Date | Simulation Results | Error % |
---|---|---|---|
Gas Turbine Work Output | 127 MW | 126.45 MW | 0.433 |
Steam Turbine Work Output | 61.5 MW | 59.47 MW | 3.3 |
Gas Turbine Inlet Temperature | 1050 °C | 1010.46 °C | 3.77 |
Gas Turbine Exhaust Temperature | 540.7 °C | 556.93 °C | 3.00 |
Efficiency | 46.93% | 46.28% | 1.39 |
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Al Mhanna, N.M.; Al Hadidi, I.; Al Maskari, S. Simulation and Energy Analysis of Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Systems (ISCCS) Using Aspen Plus. Energies 2024, 17, 3986. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17163986
Al Mhanna NM, Al Hadidi I, Al Maskari S. Simulation and Energy Analysis of Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Systems (ISCCS) Using Aspen Plus. Energies. 2024; 17(16):3986. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17163986
Chicago/Turabian StyleAl Mhanna, Najah M., Islam Al Hadidi, and Sultan Al Maskari. 2024. "Simulation and Energy Analysis of Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Systems (ISCCS) Using Aspen Plus" Energies 17, no. 16: 3986. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17163986