International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET International Open Access, Monthly, Peer Reviewed, Reputed Journal ISSN (online): 2581-3048

Impact Factor (2025): 6.9

DOI Prefix: 10.47001/IRJIET

Effect of Air Inlet Heating on Energy and Exergy Efficiency in Combined Cycle Gas Turbine under Partial Load

Abstract

The operational profile of the Indonesian electricity grid often requires Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power plants to operate at partial load, leading to significant thermal efficiency degradation. This study investigates the effect of an integrated air inlet heater, utilizing Low Pressure (LP) Feed Water from the water-steam cycle, to enhance the performance of a GE 09HA.02 CCGT operating at 55% load. A comparative analysis of the plant's operational data was conducted based on energy and exergy principles, with and without the heater activated. The results demonstrate that activating the heater reduced fuel consumption by 7.6 MW and, critically, decreased the plant's total exergy destruction rate from 364.5 MW to 350.9 MW. This improvement was the result of a strategic trade-off: a substantial reduction in the compressor's exergy destruction (by 8.4 MW) outweighed an increase in losses in the Heat Recovery Steam Generator. Consequently, the exergetic efficiency of major components increased, including the compressor (from 92.52% to 95.38%) and the steam turbine (from 90.41% to 91.6%). This work concludes that the integrated air inlet heating strategy is a highly effective method for enhancing the thermodynamic quality and effectiveness of the energy conversion process, offering a validated solution to improve CCGT performance during partial load operation.

Country : Indonesia

1 Adha Aditya2 Widayat Widayat3 Udi Harmoko

  1. Master Program of Energy, Postgraduate School, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang 50241, Indonesia
  2. Master Program of Energy, Postgraduate School, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang 50241, Indonesia
  3. Master Program of Energy, Postgraduate School, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang 50241, Indonesia

IRJIET, Volume 9, Issue 11, November 2025 pp. 74-86

doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2025.911009

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