Process Simulation and Extraction of Parameters Affecting the Production Capacity and Efficiency of a Combined Cycle Power Plant Unit (Case study: Yazd Combined Cycle Power Plant)

Given the increasing importance of energy management, optimizing power generation systems and reducing their energy consumption are of great importance, particularly recognizing the parameters affecting the performance of these units. In the present study, ANSALDO unit was investigated as a combined cycle unit commonly applied in Iran. To this end, the ANSALDO unit of Yazd Combined Cycle Power Plants was modeled and analyzed. This was followed by obtaining the efficiency and production capacity of the power plant, determining the thermal balance of all power plant equipment and investigating the impact of effective parameters on gas and steam units. Based on the findings, each gas unit of this power plant had a thermal efficiency of 34% and a production capacity of 134 MW. When these units were coupled to the steam unit in the design, the total thermal efficiency of the power plant reached 50% and its production capacity reached 422 MW. An examination of the impact of effective parameters on thermal efficiency and production capacity showed that increasing ambient temperature decreased the thermal efficiency of power plant by 14%, which can be compensated by activating the evaporator system and total production by 10 to 15 MW.