Waste energy utilization in heat-exchange gas turbine cycles

Abstract One of the ways that can be used to increase the efficiency of a shaft gas turbine engine is by installing heat exchanger in one of the following two configurations: 1. 1. After the low pressure turbine (usual case); 2. 2. After the high pressure turbine (suggested). Analysis of ideal cycles as well as a real cycle for both configurations is done by using a computer program, where the following parameters were studied: heat exchanger effectiveness, turbine efficiency, compressor efficiency, ratio of turbine inlet pressure to compressor delivery pressure ( P 3 P 2 ), and maximum temperature ratio ( T 3 T 1 ). From the sensitivity analysis for both configurations the unusual configuration is inferior to the suggested in terms of the relative effects of compressor and turbine efficiencies on the overall efficiency and turbine inlet pressure on overall thermal efficiency and power output. However, the usual method is superior with respect to the relative effects of the compressor and turbine efficiencies on power output.