GE’s Part Load Efficiency (PLE) Solution is an integrated plant offering applicable to new and existing plants designed to improve part load efficiency for gas turbine based combined cycle power plants by using low-grade energy from the steam cycle to pre-heat the gas turbine inlet air. This reduces the efficiency loss that combined cycle power plants typically experience when operating at part load during off-peak hours or when intermittent renewables are supplying the grid with electricity. Additionally, this solution is designed to reduce the minimum load at which a combined cycle power plant can continue to operate, further improving fuel efficiency and avoiding costly plant shutdowns due to low load operation.
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Environmental Benefits
GE's Part Load Efficiency Solution is designed to improve combined cycle power plant efficiency at part load. For example, when applied to a GE 9FA gas turbine operating 80% of the time at part load, it can reduce annual natural gas consumption by up to 41,000 MMBtu per turbine, avoiding about 3,330 metric tons of CO2 emissions. By extending turndown in a combined cycle power plant operating at minimum load, the Part Load Efficiency Solution can further reduce annual fuel consumption by 61,000 MMBtu per turbine for a total savings of 102,000 MMBtu, or 5,500 metric tons of avoided CO2 emissions. This is equivalent to the annual CO2 emissions of approximately 2,800 cars on European roads.
Operating Benefits
GE's Part Load Efficiency Solution is designed to improve combined cycle power plant efficiency at part load. For example, when applied to a GE 9FA gas turbine operating 80% of the time at part load, it can reduce annual natural gas consumption by up to 41,000 MMBtu per turbine, a savings of $497,000 at a fuel cost of $12 per MMBtu. By extending turndown in a combined cycle power plant operating at minimum load, the Part Load Efficiency Solution can further reduce annual fuel consumption by 61,000 MMBtu per turbine for a total savings of 102,000 MMBtu, equivalent to savings of $1.15 Million at a fuel cost of $12 per MMBtu.
