Combined Cycle Power Plant Performance Enhancement Based on Inlet Air Cooling Techniques: A Technical Review Mude Murali Mohan Naik 1 1 Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, JNTUA, Anantapuramu, India. Dr. V. S. S. Murthy 2 2 Principal, KSRM College of Engineering, Kadapa, India Dr. B. Durga Prasad 3 3 Prof. & Head, Department of Mechanical Engineering, JNTUACE, Anantapuramu, India Abstract: - This paper is intended to review the literature on research, development and latest advancement related to combined cycle power plants performance enhancement techniques. A gas turbine and a steam turbine together called as combined cycle power plant which produces approximately 50 percent more electricity from the same fuel than a traditional simple gas turbine cycle power plant. The performance of combined cycle power plant mainly depends on the gas turbine inlet air temperature, the rate of mass flow through it and various operating parameters. This can be achieved by gas turbine inlet air cooling techniques. The techniques including the mechanical chillers, media type evaporative coolers and absorption chillers have been reviewed. It is found that the power consumption of the cool inlet air is of considerable concern since it decreases the net power output of gas turbine. In addition, the mechanical chiller auxiliary power consumption is very high compared to media type evaporative coolers. Furthermore, the reviewed works revealed that the efficiency of evaporative cooler largely depends on moisture present in the air. The gas turbine power augmentation through inlet air chilling is effectively used to boost power during high ambient temperature usually synchronous with on-peak power generation, allowing leveling of gas turbine power output. Keywords: - Combined Cycle Power Plants, Performance Enhancement Techniques, Mechanical Chillers, Absorption Chillers I. INTRODUCTION The basic principle of the Combined Cycle power plant has a compressor, combustion chamber and a gas turbine (GT) which is coupled to generator to produce electricity and the waste exhaust heat energy is used to make steam and to generate additional electricity via a steam turbine. The gas turbine is one of the most efficient one for the conversion of gas fuels to mechanical power and in turn in to electricity using generator. A Combined Cycle Power Plant produces high power outputs at high efficiencies (up to 58%) and with low emissions. In a Conventional power plant we are getting 35% electricity only and remaining 65% as waste energy to atmosphere. By using combined cycle power plant we are getting 68% electricity. From the diagram, First step is the same as the simple cycle gas turbine plant. An open circuit gas turbine has a compressor, a combustor and a turbine. The output temperature of flue gases is very high. This is therefore high enough to provide heat for a second cycle which uses steam as the working medium i.e. thermal power station. 1) Air Inlet: This air is drawn though the large air inlet section where it is cleaned cooled and controlled. Heavy-duty gas turbines are able to operate successfully in a wide variety of climates and environments due to inlet air filtration systems that are specifically designed to suit the plant location. Under normal conditions the inlet system has the capability to process the air by removing contaminants to levels below those that are harmful to the compressor and turbine. 2) Turbine Cycle: The air which is purified then compressed and mixed with natural gas and ignited, which causes it to expand. The pressure created from the expansion spins the turbine blades, which are attached to a shaft and a generator, creating electricity. In second step the heat of the gas turbine’s exhaust is used to generate steam by passing it through a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) with a live steam temperature between 420 and 580 °C. International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT) ISSN: 2278-0181 http://www.ijert.org IJERTV6IS120126 Published by : www.ijert.org (This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.) Vol. 6 Issue 12, December - 2017 221