Author(s)

H. Hussain, M. Sebzali, B. Ameer

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to study and analyze the steam Rankine cycle for Kuwait power plant operation to come up with techniques to enhance its efficiency, hence, resulting in savings in fuel consumption as well as the reduction of harmful emissions. To achieve this objective, the Rankine cycle was modeled and simulated. The estimation of water and steam properties was also carried out. The equation-oriented approach was utilized for the process modelling as a whole with subroutines for each unit operation solved sequentially. Results showed that the steam inlet temperature had a more significant effect on the turbines’ work production and the thermal efficiency than the inlet pressure. The peak efficiency also occurred at reheating to inlet pressure ratios between 10% and 20%, and the thermal efficiency increased from 42.7% to about 44% when optimal feed-water heater pressures were used.

Keywords

Rankine cycle, steam turbine, energy consumption