Gas turbines for advanced pressurized fluidized bed combustion combined cycles (APFBC)

This paper describes gas turbines from several manufacturers that, with modification, have potential for repowering existing steam plants with high efficiency advanced circulating pressurized fluidized bed combustion combined cycle (APFBC) technology. The paper discusses the issues that must be addressed by these manufacturers if they are to have units suited for entry into the APFBC market. APFBC repowering retains the continued use of existing coal-fired capacity with acceptable economy. APFBC repowering significantly improves the energy efficiency of an existing plant, the plant's environmental performance, and reduces operating costs. Coal-fired APFBC is now under test in large scale demonstrations, and will be ready for commercial repowering installations around year 2005, so it is prudent to begin evaluating the types of APFBC-modified units that might be offered from different manufacturers. The paper describes concept evaluations that are completed or underway that would use each of four APFBC-modified gas turbines for APFBC repowering. The paper focuses on the features of these gas turbines for APFBC systems. Specific attention is paid to modifications needed to develop units that can be applied to APFBC systems. Specific attention is paid to modifications needed to develop units that can be applied to APFBC plant repowering. Several importantmore » modifications that would allow these gas turbines to operate in an APFBC environment are highlighted.« less