PerformanceAnalysis of Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Power Plant
for Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
Sanusi, YinkaSofihullahi
a
, Gandhidasan, Palanichamy
b
,
Mokheimer,EsmailM.A.
c
a,b,c
Mechanical Engineering Department, KFUPM, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
a
sanusi@kfupm.edu.sa
b
pgandhi@kfupm.edu.sa
c
esmailm@kfupm.edu.sa
Keywords:Integrated solar combined cycle, Direct steam generation, Energy analysis, Plant
performance
Abstract: Saudi Arabia is blessed with abundant solar energywhichcan be use to meet its ever
increasing power requirement. In this regard, the energy analysis and plant performance of
integrated solar combined cycle (ISCC) plant with direct steam generation (DSG) was carried out
for Dhahran, Saudi Arabia using four representative months of March, June, September and
December. The plant consists of 180MW conventional gas turbine plant and two steam turbines of
80MW and 60MW powered by the solar field and gas turbine exhaust. With high insolation during
the summer month of June the plant can achieve up to 25% of solar fraction with ISCC plant
efficiency of 45% as compared to gas turbine base of 38%.This can however be improved by
increasing the number of collectors or/and the use of auxiliary heater .
Introduction
More than 80% of the 20,132TWh world total electricity production and consumption in 2009 is
from fossil fuel[1]. With the reality of the effect of global climate change, measures need to be
taken to limit greenhouse gases (CO
2
, CH
4
and NOx) emission coming from the fossil fuel fired
power plants as ratified by the Kyoto protocol of 1997. Besides, fossil fuel is exhaustible which
necessitate the need to look inward for a sustainable and environmental friendly means of
generating electricity. With advances in solar technology in the last two decade, production of
electricity from solar has renewed the interest in solar thermal power generation, However, due to
high amount of heat lost during start up and shut down, high cost of storing heat energy for off sun
period as well as high technical and economical risk, it application has been limited and has given
rise to the introduction of the solar hybrid system.
Integrated Solar Combined Cycle (ISCC) proposed a means of integrating a parabolic trough solar
field with modern combined cycle power plants with the aim of improving system cost and
efficiency. Several works has been carried out to look at the potential and viability of ISSC plant at
Nomenclature
Aperture area (m
2
)
Absorber temperature (K)
Absorber area (m
2
)
Absorber heat loss coefficient(W/m
2
K)
DNI Direct normal insolation (W/m
2
) W
gt
Gas turbine power(W)
Energy input (W) W
ISCC
Integrated solar combined cycle power(W)
F
R
Heat removal factor W
T1
High pressure steam turbine power (W)
I Hourly solar radiation (W/m
2
) W
T2
Low pressure steam turbine power (W)
Incidence angle modifier
Zenith angle
Useful heat output (W)
Ambient temperature (K)
Incidence angle
Efficiency
Applied Mechanics and Materials Vol. 492 (2014) pp 568-573
© (2014) Trans Tech Publications, Switzerland
doi:10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.492.568
All rights reserved. No part of contents of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of TTP,
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