Power Generation Systems Assessment: A New Approach

Power generation systems have become useful for grid base and off grid electric power generation. Hence, its performance has become critical for sustainable growth and development. Performance evaluation of power generation systems has always been carried out using the independent assessment approach (IAA) whose models are: the reliability, availability, emission characteristics, energy and exergy efficiency. The IAA approach only assesses the system performance in part without recur to other indexes, hence, limiting a holistic view of the true plant state. In this paper, the development of a new performance index using the combined assessment approach (CAA) is explored. This approach (CAA) seeks to combine two relatable traditional measures for the assessment of power generation system. The model combines exergy efficiency and reliability measures for analysis. First Independent Power Limited (FIPL) gas turbine power plant was used to test the model. The plant reliability and availability were evaluated along with its thermal efficiency using the exergy model. The analysis of plant thermal efficiency was carried out using the steady state model. Results of the traditional indexes of the plant were compared with the proposed (Bassy-II index) index. It was seen that the new index provided a new assessment criteria. The exergy efficiency, reliability and availability measures indicated a fairly rated plant state. However, the new index defined a new plant state which is unique and represents the true status of the system in whole. Hence, the proposed index (Bassy-II index) is recommended for use in the holistic assessment of power generation systems.