POWER-GEN Europe and REWE 2017

Sessions Speakers Exhibitors Products Press Releases Show Specials Floor Plan Buzz

CCPP Improvements in a Business Environment of Intermittent Power Generation (Room A)

Energy markets with high levels of renewable power generation lead typically to a severe change for the fossil plants in these markets, as the number of operating hours as well as the operating profile is strongly affected. Many combined cycle power plants (CCPP) which were designed for base load changed to cycling mode with the need of optimized start-up performance after overnight stops. With further increasing renewable generation capacity the renewable power generation during advantageous weather condition leads to periods without CCPP dispatch for several days or weeks. In general the consequences of these extended shut-downs are increasing start-up time and moderate power ramp-up of the plant due to the low metal temperatures of Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) and steam turbine. To increase power availability of CCPPs after stand stills of different lengths, several improvements including variable operation modes of the gas turbine have been developed and tested and shall be presented in this paper. It will be shown, that it is possible to adjust start-up capabilities of the CCPP fleet in service to changing market requirements.