Title: Energy and exergy analysis of a steam power plant to replace the boiler with a heat recovery steam generator

Authors: Mahdi Mohseni; Hamid-Reza Bahrami; Mohammad Sadegh Leili

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Qom University of Technology, Qom 37181 46645, P.O. Box 37195-1519, Iran ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Qom University of Technology, Qom 37181 46645, P.O. Box 37195-1519, Iran ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Qom University of Technology, Qom 37181 46645, P.O. Box 37195-1519, Iran

Abstract: This research aims to optimise the power production of a thermal power plant in Iran by replacing the existing boiler with a heat recovery steam generator. A comprehensive study of the existing steam cycle and the proposed combined system reveals that the boiler, turbine, and condenser have the highest exergy destruction rates. The six heaters and boiler contribute 25% and 70% of the turbine input energy, respectively. The inlet temperatures of HP and IP turbines have the largest influence on the efficiency. The combined cycle analysis shows that first and second-law efficiencies can be increased by 27% and 26%, respectively.

Keywords: energy; exergy; thermal power plant; steam cycle; combined cycle; first law efficiency; second law efficiency; heat recovery; steam generator; turbine; boiler.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2024.136448

International Journal of Exergy, 2024 Vol.43 No.1, pp.1 - 20

Received: 27 Jul 2023
Accepted: 18 Nov 2023
Published online: 01 Feb 2024 *