Integrated methodology for heavy-duty gas turbine modeling, performance simulation and verification

The research activity carried out in Ansaldo Energia for PhD purpose is focused on heavy-duty gas turbine (GT) code development and modeling addressed to design and off-design performance prediction and verification. Simplified GT performance models are fundamental because they allow to quickly simulate the GT with realistic results. Previous Ansaldo Energia and Ansaldo Energia Switzerland (ex-Alstom Power) tool suites have been integrated and improved to get an advanced and reliable performance calculation platform called New Gas Turbine Performance Tool (NGTPT). Compressor, turbine, secondary air branches modeling as well as new control volumes for each component have been defined with particular focus on the cooled turbine model. The NGTPT has been enriched with new features too, such as blow-off line flow calculation and gas turbine regulation logics implementation. The new code has been validated with respect to the previous simulation tools, then it has been adopted for real plant data analysis. The focus of the study is on the plant flexibilization via Minimum Environmental Load (MEL) reduction. Regulating blow-off, IGV extra closure and anti-icing activation have been investigated as innovative solutions for MEL reduction with the help of experimental data. The model calibration in such unconventional operating conditions has been verified and empirical correlations for secondary order effects found to improve the code predictions. Finally, the different solutions have been compared to highlight the expected benefits and drawbacks and to assess the more efficient MEL reduction strategy.