Journal of Power and Energy Engineering, 2015, 3, 11-23

Published Online January 2015 in SciRes. http://www.scirp.org/journal/jpee

http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jpee.2015.31002

Thermodynamic Performance Analysis of a

Gas Turbine in an Equatorial Rain Forest
Environment
Barinaadaa Thaddeus Lebele-Alawa, Vining Jo-Appah
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rivers State University of Science and Technology,
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Email: [email protected]
Received 19 November 2014; revised 22 December 2014; accepted 3 January 2015
Copyright 2015 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY).
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abstract
This paper discusses the thermodynamic analysis of a gas turbine power plant located in the
equatorial rainforest of southern Nigeria. Steady state monitoring and direct collection of data
from the Mk IV Speedtronics system and log books in the control room was performed. The variation of operating conditions (ambient temperature, compressor discharge temperature, turbine
inlet temperature, exhaust temperature and fuel mass flow rate) on the performance of gas turbine (thermal efficiency, net power output, heat rate, specific fuel consumption and compressor
work) were investigated using various thermodynamic relations and equations. The results show
that a degree rise in ambient temperature could be responsible for the following: 1.37% reduction
in the net power output, 1.48% increase in power drop, 1.49% reduction in thermal efficiency,
2.16% increase in heat rate, 2.17% increase in specific fuel consumption and 0.3% increase in
compressor work. Furthermore the thermal efficiency decreases by 0.006% for 1 kcal/kWh increase in heat rate and the heat transfer in the hot gas part was found to increase by 0.16% for a
degree rise in ambient temperature. Also the work reveals that the gas turbine had a huge drop in
power due to influence of site parameters in contrast to designed data.

Keywords
Gas-Turbine, Thermal Efficiency, Power, Compressor Work, Specific Fuel Consumption, Heat Rate,
Combustion

1. Introduction
Gas turbines are designed to be highly effective in producing aligned high thrusts. In a gas turbine, atmospheric air
How to cite this paper: Lebele-Alawa, B.T. and Jo-Appah, V. (2015) Thermodynamic Performance Analysis of a Gas Turbine
in an Equatorial Rain Forest Environment. Journal of Power and Energy Engineering, 3, 11-23.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jpee.2015.31002

B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah

is drawn in through an intake duct into the compressor and delivered at a higher pressure to the combustor. This is
accomplished by the gas turbine compressor consisting of a cascade of several stages of blades located in radial
form on a single axle [1]-[3].
The power produced by an expansion turbine and consumed by a compressor is proportional to the absolute
temperature of the gas passing through the device. Consequently, it is advantageous to operate the expansion
turbine at the highest practical temperature consistent with economic materials and internal blade cooling technology and to operate the compressor with inlet air flow at a temperature as low as possible.
Overall efficiency of the gas turbine cycle depends primarily upon the pressure ratio of the compressor. It is
important to realize that in the gas turbine the processes of compression, combustion and expansion do not occur
in a single component as they occurred in a reciprocating engine. It is well known that the performance can be
qualified with respect to its efficiency, power output, and specific fuel consumption as well as work ratio. There
are several parameters that affect its performance including the compressor compression ratio, combustion inlet
temperature and turbine inlet temperature [4].
Thermodynamic analysis of the gas and steam turbines at Takoradi thermal power station has been studied [5].
The work deals with the validation of thermodynamic models that was used to evaluate the performance of this
plant using both light crude oil (LCO) and natural gas (NG). The model inputs and outputs included the ambient
temperature and pressures, compressor pressure ratio, component efficiencies, air flow rate in compressor, mass of
fuel, fuel calorific values, compressor power input, pressure of water in the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG),
temperature of flue gas at the exit of the HRSG, temperature of water at the pump input, mass flows of steam and
cooling water and the net power from both the gas and steam turbines. Mass and energy balance equations were
used for the model development. A work on the analysis of the combustion process of a gas turbine to control
temperature has been done [6]. The combustion analysis was carried out to determine combustion chamber exhaust temperature and turbine entry temperature. In the work, three basic factors: excess air, compressor inlet
temperature and combustion chamber wall temperature were considered to determine their influence on the combustion chamber exhaust temperature with a view to controlling it (combustion chamber exhaust temperature) to
tolerable limits with respect to the plants performance and component failure. In analyzing the effects on the
combustion chamber exhaust temperature, the temperature profile on the liner was taken into consideration and an
equation was developed to describe the temperature profile of the liner using a one dimensional approach. The
result shows that the combustion chamber temperature rise increases as the air/fuel ratio increases at constant air
inlet temperature.
Analytical modeling of performance characteristics of axial flow two-stage turbine engine using pressure losses
models and comparing with experimental results has been done [7]. In this work a detailed systematic analysis of
two-stage, axial flow turbine by using different losses models and a new suggestion algorithm based on onedimensional simulation. To predict the performance of two-stage axial flow turbine at both the design and offdesign conditions, one-dimensional modeling, being an accurate and fast method for obtaining gas turbine performance condition was used.
Also, numerical simulation of performance of an axial turbine first stage has been studied [8]. The study deals
with steady state 2/3D viscous flow to obtain information about the performance of a first-stage axial turbine by
simulating the flow through the blades. Computational fluid dynamics software was used to solve the RANS
equations with the spalart-Allmaras turbulence model. Performance map for the whole range of operation of turbine was constructed. The CFD results were compared with the mean line loss model ones, which account for the
losses by Denton loss model.
The effect of surface roughness on thermodynamic performance parameter of axial flow compressor has also
been studied [9]. This study respectively discusses the effect of surface roughness on performance parameter when
surface roughness is constant and linearly distributed. The study chooses NASA rotor 37 as study object. Reverse
design method was applied to reconstruct the fouled compressor by combining laser triangulation sensor with
compressor fouling test rig and then reconstructed solid model is imported into ANSYS CFX to simulate flow
field.
Other performance analyses have been carried out such as performance analysis and components irreversibility
of a (25 MW) gas turbine power plant modeled with a spray cooler [10]. In this work the potential benefits of
improving the performance of the current gas turbine plant into a more advanced cycle with high efficiency and
power output through inlet air cooling were analyzed. In the study, performance characteristics were determined
for a set of actual operational conditions including ambient temperature, relative humidity, turbine inlet temper-

12

B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah

ature and pressure ratio. Operating data for Gas turbine unit were collected from the daily turbine control log sheet
for a period of two years. The average operating variables and the thermodynamic properties were determined
using Engineering Equation Software (EES). The analysis of the plant was divided into different control volumes
and performance of the plant was estimated using component wise modeling. Mass and energy conservation laws
were applied to each component and the performance of the plant was determined for the simple system (without
spray cooler) and for the cooled system (with spray cooler). The irreversibility rate and the efficiencies of the
turbine components were evaluated employing Kotasexergy models. The results obtained showed that the use of a
spray cooler on the existing gas turbine cycle gives a better thermal efficiency and less irreversibility rate in the
component system and the entire plant.
Also thermodynamic performance analysis of gas turbine power plant has been studied [4]. In this work, the
presentation of the parametric study of thermodynamic performance on gas turbine power plant was done. The
variation of operating conditions (compression ratio, turbine inlet and exhaust temperature, air to fuel ratio,
isentropic compression and turbine efficiency, and ambient temperature) on the performance of gas turbine
(thermal efficiency, compressor work, power, specific fuel consumption, heat rate) were investigated. The analytical formula for the specific work and the efficiency were derived and analyzed. The results show that the
compression ratio, ambient temperature, air to fuel ratio as well as isentropic efficiencies had strong influence on
thermal efficiency.
Thermodynamic appraisal of gas turbine performance in the Niger Delta has also been studied [11]. In this work,
the procedure for the study included collation of data from service records, field measurements, simulation of
systems and conditions and thermodynamic analysis of results. The results show that a degree centigrade rise in
ambient temperature could be responsible for the following: 0.83% reduction in power output, 0.17% increase in
heat rate and 0.40% decrease in required air flow rate. Fouling which results in a unit reduction in compressor air
flow capacity could yield between half and a unit reduction in compressor isentropic efficiency and the trends tend
to follow a linear relationship.

2. Materials and Methods

The research methodology involved collection of data from February 2009 to April 2013 as follows:
1. Monitoring and collection of data from control room Mk IV Speedtronics system;
2. Direct reading of design values from installation document;
3. Field investigation of gas turbine generator during turn around maintenance (TAM);
4. The use of thermodynamic relations and equations for such phenomena that could not be directly measured;
5. Analysis of results obtained;
6. Discussion of results obtained, conclusions and making recommendations.
Each method of data collection was designed to produce facts about some aspects of the work. The data obtained from monitoring of the control room Mk IV Speedtronics system and the daily log sheets were intended to
determine those factors that influence the gas turbine thermodynamic process. Two thermodynamic properties
pressure and temperaturestood out as important, as they were measured at the entries and exits of the major
components of the gas turbine; namely the compressor, combustion chamber and turbine.
In the treatment and collection of data, mean values of daily parameters were computed by the use of statistical
method; followed by monthly average and the overall average for the research period. Some of the phenomena of
the operation of the set could not be investigated directly by field measurements because the points were the
measurements would have been made where inaccessible. One of such phenomena was the combustion temperature (T3) of the hot gas as it passes through the combustion chamber. This could not be measured directly and as
such the parameter was obtained by the use of thermodynamic relations and equations.
The Net Power Output (Wnet ) is the power generated by the generator and is given as:
(1)
Wnet= Wt Wc
where Wt is the shaft work of the turbine and is given as:

=
Wt m p C p (T4 T3 )
where m p is mass of product ( kg s ) , C p is specific heat capacity of product, =
T3 TIT
=
perature. Total heat supplied

( Qadd ) , is calculated from the equation:

13

(2)
turbine inlet tem-

B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah

Qadd = ( ma + m f ) Cpa (T3 T2 ) = m f CV

=
T3

m f CV

(m

+ m f ) Cpa

+ T2

(3)
(4)

where ma is mass flow of air, m f is mass flow of fuel, Cpa is specific heat capacity of air and CV is the
calorific value of the fuel. To get T3 for a different fixed amount of fuel supply at each T1, it was therefore necessary to extrapolate.
For steady flow steady state condition, the extrapolation function is given as:

ET =CET + ( ATTI CET )( FFS AFS )

(5)

where
ET = Extrapolated Temperature, K;
CET = Compressor Exit Temperature, K;
ATTI = Actual Temperature at Turbine Inlet for Actual Fuel Supply, K;
FFS = Fixed Fuel Supply, m3/s;
AFS = Actual Fuel Supply, m3/s.
Exhaust Temperature T4 can be determined as:

T4 =

T3

( P2

P1 )

( 1)

(6)

where is isentropic index of compression of air. For the two isobaric processes, P2 = P3 and P4 = P1 . Thus
the turbine pressure ratio P3 P4 is equal to the compressor pressure ratio, r = p2 P1 . With the turbine inlet
temperature T3 known, exhaust temperature T4 can be determined from Equation (6) above.
Compressor Work (Wc ) of the compressor is given as:

=
T1 ) aVa Cpa (T2 T1 )
Wc ma Cpa (T2=

(7)

where a is density of air, Va is volume of air aspirated by the compressor, T1 is ambient temperature and T2
is compressor discharge temperature.
Thermal Efficiency: The gas turbine thermal efficiency (th ) is the percentage of the total fuel energy input
that appears as the net work output of the cycle.

th =

Net Work
Heat Supplied

(8)

where net work is power output and is given as Equation (8) above.
Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC): The ratio of fuel used by a machine to a certain force such as the amount of
power the machine produces. And it can be determined by the equation:

SFC =

3600 mf
Wnet

(9)

where m f = is fuel mass flow rate (kg/s).

The Heat Rate
expressed as:

( HR )

is a measure used to determine how efficiently a generator uses heat energy. It can be

HR =

Heat Supplies
Power Generated

(10)

Stoichiometric Equation: This is the ideal combustion process in which minimum amount of air (stoichiometric or theoretical air) is needed to completely burn a fuel.

n
n
n
n

Cm H n + m + O 2 + 3.76 m + N 2 mCO 2 + H 2 O + 3.76 m + N 2

4
4
2
4

14

(11)

B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah

Assuming steady-state, steady-flow process involving ideal gasses, we can write from the first law of thermodynamics applied to combustion as;

Q + R nRi hof + h = W + R nPe hof + h

(12)

where
Q = Heat transfer rate in ;
nRi = Number of moles of each gas constituents of the reactants;
nPe =Number of moles of each gas constituents of the product;
h0f = Heat of formation, in KJ/Kmol;

h = Difference in enthalpy between any given state and the enthalpy at reference temperature at which the
heat of formation is taken in KJ/Kmol. This is generally taken at 25C (298 K);
W = Work transfer in ;
= Summation.
Subscript P and R indicate products and reactants respectively.

3. Results and Discussion

The parameters in Table 1 were obtained from the installation document of MS6001B gas turbine.
The values of the turbine inlet temperature in Table 2 were calculated using Equation (4). The parameter influence in terms of ambient temperature on the performance of gas turbine cycle power plant is presented in
Tables 1-9. The effects on the operating conditions on the power output, thermal efficiency, heat rate, specific
fuel consumption and compressor work were determined and plots are shown in Figures 1-8. In Table 3 the
percentage of design power output is gotten by comparing actual power output with the value of the design
power output.
90
y = -1.367x + 89.58

% Power Output

85
80
75
70
65
60
24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

Ambient Temperature C

Figure 1. Effect of ambient temperature on power output.

Table 1. Design data.
S/NO

Parameter

Units

Design Data

Power Output

MW

38.12

Thermal Efficiency

28.3

(t h )
3

Heat Rate (HR)

kcal kW h

3047

Specific Fuel

kg kW h

0.283

MW

45.28

Consumption (SFC)
5

Compressor Work

15

B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah

Table 2. Averages of temperature, flow rate and power output (measured).

Ambient
Temperature

Compressor
Exit Temperature

Fuel Gas Supply

Turbine Inlet
Temperature

Exhaust
Temperature

Power Output

C (T1)

C (T2)

kg s

C (T3)

C (T4)

MW

24

340

1217

532

33

25

341

1218

533

33

26

343

1220

534

32

27

345

1222

535

32

28

348

1225

536

32

29

349

1226

537

32

30

350

2.9

1199

522

30

31

353

2.8

1173

519

28

32

355

2.5

1088

462

26

33

357

2.4

1062

459

26

34

359

2.3

1036

434

24

35

360

2.3

1036

434

24

Table 3. Ambient temperature and turbine inlet temperature and power output.
Ambient
Temperature

Compressor
Exit
Temperature

Extrapolated
Turbine Inlet
Temperature

Exhaust
Temperature

Actual Power
Output

Actual Power Output 100

Design Power Output

Power
Drop

C (T1)

C (T2)

C (T3)

C (T4)

MW

24

340

1217

532

33.14

89.94

10.06

25

341

1218

533

33.10

86.83

13.17

26

343

1220

534

32.18

84.42

15.58

27

345

1222

535

32.00

83.95

16.05

28

348

1225

536

32.00

83.95

16.05

29

349

1226

537

31.15

81.72

18.28

30

350

1228

538

31.00

81.32

18.68

31

353

1232

540

30.27

79.41

20.59

32

355

1235

542

30.16

79.12

20.88

33

357

1238

544

29.00

76.08

23.92

34

359

1241

545

28.13

73.79

26.21

35

360

1242

546

27.00

70.83

29.17

Table 4. Ambient temperature on thermal efficiency.

Ambient Temperature

Actual th

Actual 100 Design Data

C (T1)

24

24.60

86.93

25

24.50

86.57

26

24.00

84.81

27

23.90

84.45

16

B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah
Continued
28

23.70

83.75

29

23.00

81.27

30

22.30

78.80

31

22.00

77.74

32

22.00

77.74

33

21.00

77.20

34

20.80

73.50

35

20.00

70.67

Table 5. Ambient temperature on heat rate.

Ambient Temperature C (T1)

Actual HR kcal kW h

Actual HR 100 Design Data %

24

3508

115.13

25

3508

115.13

26

3626

119.00

27

3630

119.13

28

3630

119.13

29

3688

121.04

30

3748

123.01

31

3837

125.93

32

3851

126.39

33

4009

131.57

34

4132

135.61

35

4303

141.22

Table 6. Ambient temperature on specific fuel consumption.

Ambient Temperature C (T1)

Actual SFC kg kW h

Actual SFC 100 Design Data %

24

0.326

115.19

25

0.326

115.19

26

0.336

118.73

27

0.337

119.08

28

0.337

119.08

29

0.343

121.20

30

0.348

122.97

31

0.357

126.15

32

0.358

126.50

33

0.372

131.45

34

0.384

135.69

35

0.400

141.34

17

B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah

Table 7. Ambient temperature on compressor work.

Ambient Temperature C (T1)

Actual Wc MW

Actual Wc 100 Design Data %

24

47.54

104.99

25

47.54

104.99

26

47.69

105.32

27

47.84

105.65

28

48.14

106.31

29

48.14

106.31

30

49.17

108.59

31

49.47

109.25

32

49.50

109.32

33

49.62

109.58

34

49.84

110.07

35

49.90

110.20

Table 8. Heat rate on thermal efficiency.

Ambient Temperature C (T1)

Heat Rate kcal/kWh

Thermal Efficiency %

24

3508

24.60

25

3508

24.50

26

3626

24.00

27

3630

23.90

28

3630

23.70

29

3688

23.00

30

3748

22.30

31

3837

22.00

32

3851

22.00

33

4009

21.00

34

4132

20.80

35

4303

20.00

Table 9. Ambient temperature and turbine inlet temperature and heat transfer.
Ambient
Temperature

Compressor
Exit Temperature

Extrapolated Turbine
Inlet Temperature

Actual Heat
Transfer

Percentage
Heat Transfer

C (T1)

C (T2)

C (T3)

kJ/kmol

24

340

1217

637,824

120.87

25

341

1218

640,462

121.37

26

343

1220

640,989

121.47

27

345

1222

641,517

121.57

28

348

1225

642,045

121.67

29

349

1226

642,572

121.77

30

350

1228

643,100

121.87

31

353

1232

644,156

122.07

32

355

1235

644,683

122.17

33

357

1238

645,739

122.37

34

359

1241

647,322

122.67

35

360

1242

649,433

123.07

18

B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah

35

y = 1.482x - 24.68

30

% Power Drop

25
20
15
10
5
0
22

24

26

28

30

32

34

Ambient Temperature C

Figure 2. Effect of ambient temperature on power drop.

100
y = -1.485x + 123.8

% Thermal Efficiency

80

60

40

20

0
22

24

26

28
30
Ambient Temperature C

32

34

36

Figure 3. Effect of ambient temperature on thermal efficiency.

y = 2.160x + 60.61

% of Heat Rate kcal/kWh

150
120
90
60
30
0
22

24

26

28

30

Ambient Temperature C

Figure 4. Effect of ambient temperature on heat rate.

19

32

34

36

B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah
% of Specific Fuel Consumption kg/kWh

150

y = 2.172x + 60.29

125
100
75
50
25
0
22

24

26

28
30
Ambient Temperature C

32

34

36

Figure 5. Effect of ambient temperature on specific fuel consumption.

108.5

y = 0.301x + 97.59

% Compressor work ( kJ/kg )

108
107.5
107
106.5
106
105.5
105
104.5
22

24

26

28
30
Ambient Temperature C

32

34

36

Figure 6. Effect of ambient temperature on compressor work.

30
y = -0.006x + 45.41

Thermal Efficiency

25
20
15
10
5
0
3400

3600

3800

4000
Heat Rate kcal/kWh

Figure 7. Effect of heat rate on thermal efficiency.

20

4200

4400

B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah

123.5

y = 0.1626x + 117.12

% Heat Transfer Q/Q

123
122.5
122
121.5
121
120.5
22

24

26

28
30
Ambient Temperature C

32

34

36

Figure 8. Effect of ambient temperature on heat transfer.

The governing equation is

1.3676 x + 89.586
y=

y
=
1.3676
x

Based on Figure 1 and the resultant straight line equation above, it shows that there is a fall in the power
output of about 1.37% for every 1C rise in the ambient temperature. Translated in real terms it means if a gas
turbine operated at an average ambient temperature of 30C instead of 15C used for the design, there will be a
fall in power output of 20.55% or 7.83 Mw for a gas turbine design to generate 38.12 MW at 15C.
Based on Figure 2 and the resultant straight line equation above, it shows that there is a rise in the drop of the
power output of about 1.48% for every 1C rise in the ambient temperature. Translated in real terms it means if a
gas turbine operated at an average ambient temperature of 30C instead of 15C used for the design, there will be
a rise in the power drop of 22.2% or 8.46 MW for a gas turbine design to generate 38.12 MW at 15C.
For this reason colossal losses are incurred in power generating industries in the tropical regions. To have an
idea, let us consider some of the gas turbine power generating sets in the Niger Delta.
Figure 3 above shows that there is a fall in thermal efficiency of about 1.49% for every 1C rise in the ambient temperature. Translated in real terms it means that if a turbine set operated at an average ambient temperature of 30C instead of 15C used for the design, there will be a fall in thermal efficiency of 22.35% or thermal
efficiency of 6.33% for a gas turbine designed to produce 28.3% t h at 15C.
Figure 4 shows that there is a rise in heat rate of about 2.16% for every 1C rise in the ambient temperature.
Translated in real terms it means that if a turbine set operated at an average ambient temperature of 30C instead
of 15C used for the design, there will be a rise in heat rate of 32.4% or 987.23 kcal/kWh for a gas turbine designed to generate 3047 kcal/kWh at 15C.
Figure 5 shows that there is a rise in specific fuel consumption of about 2.17% for every 1C rise in the ambient temperature. Translated in real terms it means that if a turbine set operated at an average ambient temperature of 30C instead of 15C used for the design, there will be a rise in specific fuel consumption of 32.55% or
0.092 kg/kWh of fuel for a gas turbine designed to have a specific fuel consumption of 0.283 kg/kWh at 15C.
Figure 6 shows that there is an increase in compressor work of about 0.3% for every 1C rise in the ambient
temperature. Translated in real terms it means that if a turbine set operated at an average ambient temperature of
30C instead of 15C used for the design, there will be an increase in compressor work of 4.5% or 2 MW for a
gas turbine designed to have a compressor work of 45.28 MW at 15C.
Figure 7 shows that there is a decrease in thermal efficiency of about 0.006% for every rise in heat rate of
about 1 kcal/kWh. Translated in real terms it means that if a turbine set operated at an average ambient temperature of 30C having heat rate of about 3748 kca/kWh instead of 15C as 3047 kcal/kWh as design, there will
be a decrease in thermal efficiency of 22.5%.
Figure 8 shows that there is an increase in the heat transfer of about 0.16% for every rise in ambient
temperature. Translated in real terms it means that if a turbine set operated at an average ambient temperature of

21

B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah

30C instead of 15C used for the design, there will be a rise in the heat transfer of about 2.4%. This in effect
means higher temperature in the hot gas part. And where there is insufficient air mass flow in the inlet due to
choking of inlet air filters as a result of high dust content in the Niger Delta area, the consequence will be
undercooling in the hot gas part.

4. Conclusions
It may be pertinent to state here that though much of the data collected were obtained from the performance
records of the MS6001B type gas turbine, the findings can be extended to other types of gas turbines perharps with
some little modifications. This is because the processes involved in any open gas turbine are the samea
compression process an approximately constant pressure addition of heat and an expansion process. These processes also take place in standard equipment namely, compressor, combustion chamber and turbine.
From the data analyses and results obtained, it can be generally said that the climatic condition that is peculiar in
the site that was not fully addressed at the time of installation of the gas turbine affected the operations and
performance of the set. This particular condition viewed by the author is the high ambient temperature of the area
which has a mean daily value of about 30C and which varies only slightly on both sides of this value as against the
general design ambient temperature of 15C. This high ambient temperature is a negative factor and it affects the
thermodynamic process of compression, addition of heat and expansion. Apart from affecting the processes, the
components in which these processes do occur namely the compressor, the combustion chamber and the turbine
can also be physically affected. Petrochemical gas turbine was chosen as a case study for the analysis because it is
in the Niger Delta area where all the known larger power generating gas turbines in the country are installed and it
is expected that this will not change for some time to come because the fuel for the combustion is abundant in the
area. With the foregoing, the gas turbine seems to be the best option for large scale generation of power in Nigeria.
Nevertheless, huge amount of loss in power is experienced due to high ambient temperature. Gas turbines are the
power of industrial plants in which they are installed in terms of electricity generation within the plant. And as
such in order to maintain them at high efficient level. A periodic performance evaluation of the equipment is
required.
This work reveals the various parameter and equations used in assessing the performance of the machine and
also to check the deterioration of the gas turbine design operation with time by steady monitoring, direct collection of data and using the various thermodynamic relations and equations. The use of micro soft excel is used to
obtain the summary of the overall results. The results were compared with the equipment design data. It provides a good method of obtaining the performance of gas turbine.

References
[1]

Lebele-Alawa, B.T., Hart, H.I., Ogagi, S.O.T. and Probert, S.D. (2008) Rotor-Blades Profile Influence on a Gas Turbines Compressor Effectiveness. Applied Energy, 85, 494-505. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2007.12.001

[2]

Lebele-Alawa, B.T. (2010) Axial Thrust Responses to Gas Turbines Rotor-Blade Distortions. Journal of Engineering
Physics and Thermophysics, 83, 991-994. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10891-010-0423-2

[3]

Cohen, H., Rogers, G.F.C. and Saravanamuttoo, H.I.H. (1998) Gas Turbine Theory. 4th Edition, Addison Wesley Longman Ltd., London.

[4]

Rahman, M.M., Thamir, K.I. and Ahmed, N.A. (2012) Thermodynamic Performance Analysis of Gas Turbines Power
Plant. Journal of the Physical Sciences, 6, 3539-3550.

[5]

Charles, M., Abeeku, B.H. and Seth, P.A. (2010) Thermodynamic Analysis of the Gas and Steam Turbine at Takoradi
Thermal Power Station. Journal of Technology and Advanced Engineering Research, 1, 62-72.

[6]

Odubo, E.O. (1997) Air Flow Regulator for Gas Turbine Combustion Chamber Temperature Control. Master of Technology Dissertation, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria.

[7]

Javaniyan, J., Eftari, M., Kaliji, H.D., Ghadak, F. and Rad, M. (2013) Analytical Modeling of Performance Characteristics of Axial Flow Two-Stage Turbine Engine Using Pressure Losses and Comparing with Experimental Results.
Journal of Applied Science, 21, 1250-1259.

[8]

Vinicius, G.M., Edson, L.Z., Claudia, R.A. and Lima, R.C. (2012) Numerical Simulation of Performance of an Axial
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[9]

Huadong, Y. and Hong, X. (2013) The Effect of Surface Roughness on Thermodynamic Performance Parameters of Axial
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B. T. Lebele-Alawa, V. Jo-Appah

[10] Fidelis, I.A., Ikpi, U.U. and Dodoye, I.I. (2012) Performance Analysis and Components Irreversibities of a (25 MW)
Gasturbine Power Plant Moduled with a Spray Cooler. Journal of Engineering and Applied Services, 5, 35-41.

[11] Hart, H.I. (1998) Thermodynamic Appraisal of Niger Delta Gas Turbine Performance. Ph.D. Dissertation, Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsuka.

Nomenclature
Cpa

Specific Heat at Constant Pressure of Air

J/kgK

Cp p

Specific Heat at Constant Pressure of Combustion Products

J/kgK

HR
m
P
P1

Heat Rate
Mass Flow Rate
Pressure
Ambient Pressure

kcal/kWh
kg/s
Nm2 or bar
bar

P2
P3
P4

Compressor Outlet Pressure

bar

Turbine Inlet Pressure

bar

Turbine Outlet Pressure

bar

R2

( 1 1) 1
( 2 1) 2

SFC
t
T
T1

Specific Fuel Consumption

Temperature
Absolute Temperature
Ambient Temperature (Compressor Inlet Temperature)

kg/kWh
C
K
K

T2
T2
T3
T4
V
Wc
W
MW

Compressor Exit Temperature

Isentropic Compression Outlet Temperature

Turbine Inlet Temperature
Isentropic Expansion Outlet Temperature
Volume Flow Rate
Compressor Work
Power Output
Megawatts
Isentropic Index of Compression or Expansion

K
K
K
m3/s
kJ/kg

R1

1
2

Isentropic Index of Compression of Air

Isentropic Index of Expansion of Combustion Products

Isentropic Index of Compression of Air

Isentropic Index of Expansion of Combustion Product
Efficiency
kg/m3

Density of Air

23