Gas Turbine Power Plants
Gas turbine power plants finds its application in aircraft, in the industries for driving various machines likes compressors, pumps and the mechanical equipment, transportation and for power generation both as base load and peak load plant.
First central power plant based on gas turbine was built in 1977 thereafter tremendous development in the field of gas turbine power plants has taken place due to its simplicity, flexibility in design and operation, low capital cost, less space and low water equirements.
These plants can be installed quickly. Though their thermal efficiencies were initially low, however, today the efficiencies obtained areas high 37%. These plants have been developed in the capacity range of 5 to 100 MW. It has low maintenance epuipments. There plants can be started and stopped quickly, however there require a starting mater for starting the plant.
Applications of Gas Turbine Power Plants :
Gas turbine power plants can be used for following applications :
- As peak load plants. These can run in parallel with steam, hydro and even with the power plants.
- As base load plants in case the cost of fuel is low.
- As standby and emergency plans.
- To supply mechanical drive for auxiliaries.
- It can work in combination with conventional boilers used for steam power plants and with nuclear power plants.