Distribution Duct for Combined Cycle Plant Remodeling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Old combined cycle plants experience decreased efficiency and economic losses due to low CC efficiency, making new installations with high efficiency necessary but costly.
Innovation Solution
A remodeling method for combined cycle plants that replaces existing gas turbines with more efficient ones and uses a distribution duct to supply flue gas to existing heat recovery steam generators, improving efficiency while minimizing costs by reusing existing facilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a new combined cycle plant is installed to improve CC efficiency, then CC efficiency is improved, but the cost for newly installing the facility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the principle of discarding and recovering by removing old gas turbines and ducts while retaining and reusing existing heat recovery steam generators and steam turbines. This allows the system to benefit from new high-efficiency gas turbine technology while recovering significant capital value from the existing heat recovery steam generators, thereby improving CC efficiency while controlling remodeling costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by replacing gas turbines with models that have different (improved) efficiency parameters while maintaining compatibility with existing heat recovery steam generators. The distribution duct is designed with adjustable parameters to optimize flue gas flow distribution, achieving improved CC efficiency through parameter optimization rather than complete system replacement
2Ease of manufacture
If the number of gas turbines is reduced to lower cost, then remodeling cost is suppressed, but flue gas distribution becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining flue gas from multiple gas turbines into a single distribution duct system that serves multiple heat recovery steam generators. The distribution duct integrates various flow paths and includes merging portions where flue gas from different sources is combined, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining flexibility in distribution
Solution Approach 2:
The distribution duct is segmented into multiple sections including upstream ducts, merging portions, and downstream ducts that can be independently designed and adjusted. This segmentation allows for modular construction and easier maintenance while managing the complexity of distributing flue gas to multiple heat recovery steam generators from fewer gas turbines
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method enhances combined cycle efficiency by installing higher-efficiency gas turbines and optimizing flue gas distribution, reducing remodeling costs and maintaining steam turbine output.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of heat recovery steam generators that are provided corresponding to the number of the gas turbines and configured to recover heat of flue gas discharged from the gas turbines and produce steam by the recovered heat
Implementation Method 2
a steam turbine configured to be rotationally driven by the steam produced by the heat recovery steam generators
Data Source
AI summary
A remodeling method of a combined cycle plant including gas turbines; heat recovery steam generators provided corresponding to number of the gas turbines and configured to recover heat of flue gas discharged from the gas turbines and produce steam by the recovered heat; ducts configured to guide the flue gas from the gas turbines toward the respective heat recovery steam generators; and a steam turbine configured to be rotationally driven by the steam produced by the heat recovery steam generators. The remodeling method of a combined cycle plant includes: removing gas turbines and ducts; installing, in place of the two gas turbines, a new gas turbine that is higher in efficiency and smaller in number than the two gas turbines; and installing, in place of the ducts, a distribution duct configured to distribute and guide flue gas from the new gas turbine to two heat recovery steam generators.