A combustion turbine compresses air, mixes it with gas or oil, ignites it, and drives a turbine to produce energy. Efficiency can be improved with regenerators, intercoolers, and duct burners. Climate and altitude can affect efficiency. Nitric oxide and carbon monoxide emissions can be reduced with SCR components.
A combustion turbine is a machine that air enters, is compressed, and is mixed with gas or oil before being ignited. Air is typically drawn in at the front, while compression and combustion generally also take place in different sections. The heat from the combustion can then drive a turbine that converts the force of the fast-moving, high-pressure gas into energy. The combustion turbine is often used in power plants to generate electricity, as well as in airplane engines to produce thrust.
Also called a gas turbine, the system is generally an internal combustion engine in which gases are continuously ignited, whereas in automotive engines this process is typically intermittent. Most of the turbine’s power drives the compressor, while only some generates electricity. A common problem with a combustion turbine, therefore, is energy efficiency; the function of the unit is usually defined by the Brayton cycle, where the air is compressed and the pressure increases. The air is heated at a constant pressure until it can expand, during which time the pressure and temperature decrease. Typically a decrease in air volume occurs as heat escapes from the machine into the atmosphere.
A regenerator is sometimes added to a combustion turbine to heat the air released from the exhaust, while an intercooler can reduce the temperature of the compressed gas. It can minimize the work required by the compressor, increasing the efficiency of the turbine. In systems where there are two turbines, a heater is often used on the flow between the two. Another way to increase the efficiency of a combustion turbine can be to capture heat from the exhaust, via a duct burner, for use in kilns, material drying systems, and other processes that use excess heat .
The efficiency of a combustion turbine can also be affected by climate, as well as altitude. In places with large temperature fluctuations between summer and winter, efficiency and capacity can vary quite a bit. Typical values can help designers decide what types of components to add to make the turbine operate with maximum energy efficiency.
Most types of commercial combustion turbines can operate anywhere from 500 kilowatts to 25 megawatts, depending on the model. Nitric oxide and carbon monoxide emissions are sometimes a problem, so water injection and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) components can be added to reduce the risk of exposure to these gases. A combustion engine is typically reliable and commonly available to power companies and other facilities that can operate such machinery.
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