Novel gas turbine combined cycle inlet air cooling systems integrating proton exchange membrane electrolyzer, LiBr absorption chiller, and solar energy

Abstract

The power output of gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) is constrained in hot regions due to reduced compressor inlet air flow rate. In this paper, two schemes are proposed to enhance the GTCC power output by compressor inlet air cooling. In scheme 1, during nighttime, electricity from power grid is used to drive proton exchange membrane electrolyzer for producing hydrogen and hot water; during daytime, hot water is used to drive LiBr absorption chiller for compressor inlet air cooling, hydrogen is co-combusted with natural gas. In scheme 2, solar energy is further utilized to aid the absorption chiller for generating more cold energy. The proposed schemes are subject to techno-economic analysis through a case study. The results indicate, compared with the reference GTCC, the annual net power output is enhanced by 38.05 and 59.90 GWh in schemes 1 and 2. The economic analysis suggests scheme 2 outperforms scheme 1: for schemes 1 and 2, the dynamic payback periods are 10.61 and 5.62 years, with the corresponding net present value increments being 12.74 and 38.05 million USD, the levelized cost of electricity of the augmented power are 0.16 and 0.12 USD/kWh, and the levelized cost of hydrogen is 3.98 USD/(kg H₂).