Enhancing Gas Turbine Output Through Inlet Air Cooling

Combustion gas turbines are constant-volume engines for which shaft horsepower is proportional to the combustion air mass flow. Their output and efficiency are known to decrease as the ambient temperature increases. The present paper investigates the technical and economical feasibility of using turbine inlet air cooling and its effect on the performance of gas turbines in Khartoum area. The study entertained three options namely: refrigerative, fogging and wetted media evaporative cooling. Although refrigerate cooling is proved to provide the lowest inlet air temperature but was found very costly. Based on the study results of this investigation wetted media evaporative cooling is found to be the most economically feasible option and is therefore recommended to be utilized to improve gas turbine performance in Khartoum area.