Efficiency optimisation of advanced gas turbine recuperative-cycles

The paper presents a theoretical analysis of three advanced gas turbine recuperative-cycles, that is, the intercooled, the reheat and the intercooled and reheat cycles. The internal irreversibilities, which characterise the compression and expansion processes, are taken into account through the polytropic efficiencies of the compressors and turbines. As customary in simplified analytical approaches, the study is carried out for an uncooled closed-circuit gas turbine without pressure losses in the heat exchangers and using a calorically perfect gas as working fluid. Although the accurate performance prediction of a real-gas turbine is prevented by these simplifying assumptions, this analysis provides a fast and simple approach which can be used to theoretically explain the main features of the three advanced cycles and to compare them highlighting pros and contra. The effect of the heat recuperation is investigated comparing the thermal efficiency of a given cycle type with those of two reference cycles, namely, the non-recuperative version of the analysed cycle and the simple cycle. As a result, the ranges of the intermediate pressure ratios returning a benefit in the thermal efficiency in comparison with the two reference cycles have been obtained for the first time. Finally, for the sole intercooled and reheat recuperative-cycle, a novel analytical expression for the intermediate pressure ratios yielding the maximum thermal efficiency is also given.