In this work, gas turbine engine operation conditions, especially, power level of engine operation that is economically most viable or profitable to engine operators is determined making use of MS5001PA gas turbine engine operated at Trans-AmadiPower Station, Port Harcourt as a case study. An engine model which behaves like the real engine is created using Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt  in-house gas turbine performance analysis software. The created engine model is validated by comparing the power output and the exhaust gas temperature from the field with those obtained from the software. The created engine model mimics the real engine in the field with percentage differences between the field results and simulated results from the software of 0.03% for power out and 0.26% for exhaust gas temperature. The turbine exit temperature was estimated from the engine model and used together with other engine properties for blade life estimation at different power levels and ambient temperatures in PYTHIA-Cranfield university in-house gas turbine performance analysis and diagnostics software. The results of the engineering analysis were used in the economic analysis of the plant using the payback period, discounted payback period and the net present value methods. The payback period is lowest at 90% power level with 5.18 years, the discounted payback period using 12% interest rate is also lowest at 90% power level with 8.6 years while the  NPV is highest ($6.13 Million) at 90% power level using 12% interest rate. The analysis could be applied to other existing plants. The results of this work could serve as useful guides power generators using gas turbines.

TABLE OF CONTENTS  Pages

DECLARATION ……………………………………………………………………… i

CERTIFICATION …………………………………………………………………….. ii

DEDICATION   ………………………………………………..……………………... iii 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. iv

ABSTRACT. v

LIST OF FIGURES. viii

LIST OF TABLES. ix

NOMENCLATURE.. x

CHAPTER 1:INTRODUCTION  1

1.1 Background to the Study. 1

1.2 Problem Statement3

1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study. 3

1.4 Significance of Study. 4

1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study. 4

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW  7

2.1 Gas Turbine Engine. 7

2.1.1 Open cycle gas turbine engine. 8

2.1.2 Closed cycle gas turbine engine. 10

2.2 Gas Turbine Performance Analysis. 12

2.3 Gas Turbine Engine Life Estimation. 16

CHAPTER 3: MATERIALS AND METHODS. 21

3.1 Procedure for Engine Performance Determination. 21

3.2 Gas Turbine Engine Performance Calculations. 21

3.2.1 Compression and Expansion Losses. 22

3.2.2 Pressure Losses in the Combustion Chamber and Exhaust process. 24

3.2.3 Heat Input into the cycle and Combustion Efficiency. 25

3.3 Gas Turbine Engine Model26

3.3.1 Creation of Gas Turbine Engine Model27

3.3.2 Procedure for Creation of Engine Model29

3.4 Engine Blade Life Calculation. 31

3.5 Economic Analysis of the Gas Turbine Plant33

3.5.1 Discounted Payback Period (DPP) Method. 33

3.5.2 Net Present Value (NPV) Method. 34

3.5.3 Installed Cost of the Plant35

3.5.4 Cost of Running the Plant35

3.5.5 Revenue from the Plant37

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.. 39

4.1 Results. 39

4.2 Discussion of Results. 45

CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 49

5.1 Summary. 49

5.2 Conclusions. 50

5.3 Recommendations. 50

5.4 Contribution to Knowledge. 51

REFERENCES. 53

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A: SOME BLADE DATA USED FOR THE BLADE LIFE

CALCULATION ………………………………………………….  57

APPENDIX B:  A TYPICAL LARSON MILLER MASTER CURVE ……………. 58

APPENDIX C: COST PROJECTION OF GAS TURBINE POWER PLANT  ……. 59

APPENDIX D: CAPITAL AND OPERATING COST RANGES FOR

 DIFFERENT POWER PLANTS …………………………………. 60

APPENDIX E: DIFFERENT CATEGORY OF CUSTOMERS FOR

 ELECTRICITY TARIFF ………………………………………….  61

APPENDIX F: BEDC’S ELECTRICITY CHARGES FOR DIFFERENT

CLASSES OF CUSTOMERS, N/kWh …………………………….  62

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 2.1:  Open Cycle Gas Turbine Engine. 8

Figure 2.2: Closed Cycle Gas Turbine Plant12

Figure 3.1: T-s Diagram of Real Gas Turbine Engine Cycle. 22

Figure 3.2 Second Stage of software interface for engine model creation. 28

Figure 3.3 First Stage Software Interface for Engine Model Creation. 30

Figure 3.4: Interface for Selection of Simulation Type. 30

Figure 3.5: Interface for Inputing General and Specific Input Data. 31

Figure 4.1 Software Interface Showing Created Gas Turbine Engine Model Properties. 39

Figure 4.2: Specific Fuel Consumption oF Engine at Different Power Levels. 41

Figure 4.3: Revenue and Costs of Engine Operation Per Annum at Different Power Levels  42

Figure 4.4: Net Annual Cash Flow at Different Power Levels. 43