Enhancing Gas Turbine Power Plant Performance in Tropical Climates by Using Inlet Air Cooling With Desiccant Dehumidification and Evaporative Cooling

Abstract

Gas turbine power plants play a critical role in meeting the increasing demand for electricity. However, their performance can be affected by high ambient temperatures and humidity levels in tropical climates, which can lead to a decrease in power output. This study explores the potential benefits of using inlet air cooling with desiccant dehumidification and evaporative cooling to improve the performance of gas turbine power plants in tropical regions. The findings indicate that this method of inlet air cooling, which integrates evaporative cooling, desiccant wheel, and Maisotsenko cooler, is a viable option for mitigating the performance drop of gas turbines in hot tropical conditions. Moreover, by utilizing turbine exhaust gases to heat the regeneration air utilized in the desiccant wheel for dehumidification, the compressor inlet temperature can be reduced by an average of 11.5 °C. Additionally, the power requirement of the inlet air cooling system is about 0.9 MW, while there is an improvement of more than 2 MW in power output at peak ambient temperature. Further research is needed to understand and quantify other benefits related to inlet air cooling, such as reducing emissions of harmful pollutants and operating at higher turbine inlet temperatures.