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Effect of fuel composition of LNG on the performances and operating characteristics of a gas turbine cycle

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Abstract

The effect of natural gas compositions on the thermodynamic performance characteristics of the single-shaft gas turbine cycle is analyzed in this study. The fuel characteristics are signified by H/C ratio and heating value, then the system are analyzed, and the full off-design analysis is performed by using TIT, TET, and power control. As the heating value of natural gas decreases, power output increases due to the increased mass flow passing through the turbine for all control methods. Additionally, regardless of the control method, the compressor surge margin is reduced and the turbine blade temperature is raised, making the gas turbine operation extremely vulnerable. Most parameters are sensitively affected by the HC ratio of fuel with TIT control. When the power control is used, gas turbine efficiency is reduced due to the increased operation of the compressor. The results are expressed by polynomial equations relative to each design value. In terms of the performance curves of the gas turbine cycle, the trends of most parameters accord with high H/C ratio and low heating value.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the Research Program of the New Energy Technology Research Center, R&D Division of KOGAS, Republic of Korea and through the Human Resources Development Program (No. 20184030202060) of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning grant funded by the Korean Government Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea

    Yeseul Park, Saemi Park, Minsung Choi & Gyungmin Choi

  2. Type Certification Team, KF-X Program Management Division, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Sacheon, Korea

    Saemi Park

  3. Department of Clean Fuel and Power Generation, Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM), Daejeon, Korea

    Minsung Choi

  4. New Energy Technology Research Center, R&D Division, KOGAS, Daegu, Korea

    Joongsung Lee

Authors
  1. Yeseul Park
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  2. Saemi Park
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gyungmin Choi.

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Recommended by Associate Editor Joon Ahn

Yeseul Park received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from Pusan National University in 2013 and 2015, respectively. She is currently enrolled in the doctorate program of the Graduated School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University.

Saemi Park received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in mechanical engineering from Pusan National University in 2014 and 2016, respectively. She works with the Korea Aerospace Industries.

Minsung Choi received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from Pusan National University in 2012, 2014, and 2019, respectively. His research interests include optical measurement of multi-phase flows and performance analysis in the field of power generation.

Joongsung Lee received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Pusan National University in 1995. Dr. Lee is a Chief Researcher at the New Energy Technology Research Center, Korea Gas Cooperation R&D Center, Republic of Korea. Dr. Lee is the Project Director of the Korean Society of Combustion.

Gyungmin Choi received his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Pusan National University in 1997 and from Osaka University in 2002. Dr. Choi is a Professor of the School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea. Dr. Choi is in charge of the general affairs of the Korean Society of Combustion.

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Park, Y., Park, S., Choi, M. et al. Effect of fuel composition of LNG on the performances and operating characteristics of a gas turbine cycle. J Mech Sci Technol 33, 3543–3553 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0648-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0648-8

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