Performance analysis of a heavy duty combined cycle power plant burning various syngas fuels

This paper presents a performance analysis of state of the art combined cycles power plants burning a number of syngas fuels. The first part of the analysis focuses on the effect of gas composition on the rated performance of the plant drawing two main conclusions. First, higher pressure ratio and lower firing temperature are found at turbine inlet. Second, the pressure at which fuel is supplied to the gas turbine plays an essential role in the power capacity of the engine. With respect to the steam cycle, no major effects are appreciated except for very low LHV fuels. In the second part of the work, the annual performance of the engine subjected to a typical load profile and real ambient and market conditions is studied. Differences in total incomes are appreciated depending on fuel composition and the concern about carbon emissions is highlighted.