A heat-recovery cooling system to conserve energy in gas-turbine power stations in the Arabian Gulf

In a gas turbine the terminal output is inversely proportional to the ambient temperature. In Arabian Gulf areas, the average ambient temperature varies by more than 30°C from summer to winter. This causes a big drop in power during summer. The present paper suggests using an absorption system to cool the intake air to the compressor. This system can be powered from the waste heat of the exhaust gases, which attain higher temperatures during the summer. Lithium bromide/water absorption systems are natural choices for taking advantage of the abundant energy available from the exhaust gases. With such systems, the useful power output may be increased by more than 20% during summer without consuming more fuel.