A Recuperated Gas Turbine Incorporating External Heat Sources in the Combined Gas-Steam Cycle

Abstract

The recuperation by means of external waste heat sources, as opposed to the recuperation of the turbine exhaust gases (to preheat the compressed air), allows one to utilize the hot exhaust gases of the gas turbine in the bottoming steam cycle to produce steam in order to generate additional power. Such a combined gas/steam energy system, closely integrated with the industrial process, can produce electric power (and useful heat) with high efficiency and very low atmospheric air pollution. In the present paper two examples of applications of this new technology have been analyzed from the economic and ecological viewpoint.