The development of a high temperature air heating unit based on the external combustion for integrated gasification combined cycle

Abstract

The use of heat exchangers in which the working fluid before it enters the gas turbine is warmed up due to the combustion of fuel or other external energy source still is of interest due to the method advantages: the cleanliness of the working fluid; the ability of using cheap low-grade fuels, solar or nuclear energy; the possibility of usage of the closed gas turbine cycle with gases as a working medium, that having favorable thermodynamic properties in comparison with air (helium, CO2, etc.). However, the desired gas turbine inlet temperature - up to 1,700°C currently not possible to provide even with the use of ceramic heat exchangers. Therefore, this technology is now being considered for solid-fuel micro gas turbines operating at temperatures 900-1100°C, or for reducing the need for fuel gas of integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) by the means of preheating of cyclic air as well as it is considered for solar gas turbines and gas turbines on the basis of high temperature gas cooled reactors. The authors have developed a metal recuperative air heater based on external combustion of coal for 500 MW IGCC power plant, the development of IGCC is determined by the Energy strategy of Russia for the period up to 2030. In the article the thermal characteristics of the heating of pressurized air, the possible options for the configuration of the heater, heat-resistant materials suitable for its production and the results of the feasibility calculations are considered. In conclusion the design that allows to significantly reduce the specific capital and operating costs for the heater compared to the classic one is proposed. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.