Power augmentation technologies for gas turbines: Alternatives for an existing simple cycle power plant in Peru

The influence of different power augmentation techniques used in gas turbines on the performance of simple cycle type power plants is assessed in this work. A computational model and tool realistically describing the performance of a typical simple cycle type power plant at design and off-design point conditions is initially developed. This tool is complemented with different models of power augmentation technologies. Finally, the whole model including both power plant and power augmentation techniques is used to analyze a case study involving a particular power plant in Peru. The results from the simulations of the specific power plant indicate that power output can be increased through all the evaluated power augmentation technologies. These results show indeed that technologies based on absorption refrigeration systems produce the largest gains in terms of power output (7.1%) and thermal efficiency (0.7%). Such results confirm the suitability of these systems for simple cycle type power plant configurations operating under hot and humid operating conditions as those accounted for here. From an economic perspective, considering the net present value as the key parameter defining the feasibility of a project in this category, power augmentation techniques based on absorption cooling systems result also the most suitable ones for the studied power plant. Power augmentation techniques environmental implications are also quantified in terms of CO2 emissions.