Heat Recovery Steam Generator Technology

2

The combined cycle and variations that use HRSGs

Joseph Miller,    The Energy Corporation, Steamboat Springs, CO, United States

Abstract

The Brayton cycle (gas turbine) and the Rankine cycle (steam turbine) are two venerable cycles that have served mankind well. However, the combined cycle, which combines the Brayton and Rankine cycles, has resulted in cycle efficiencies exceeding 60% on a lower heating value basis. This is a much higher efficiency than can be achieved by either the Brayton or Rankine cycle alone. To combine these two cycles, a means to recover the waste heat from the gas turbine exhaust must be provided. The modern day heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) has met this need and is the bridge between the two cycles. The versatility ...