Exergetic optimization of single level combined gas–steam power plants considering different objective functions

Combined cycle power plants have been studied in this paper with the aim of optimizing the heat recovery steam generator using a first and second law approach. To this end, a mathematical model has been developed for determining the optimal steam pressure in a one pressure level heat recovery steam generator, considering that the gas turbine is known. Different objective functions have been analysed in this study, some of which refer only to the exergy balance of the heat recovery steam generator while others involve the whole bottoming cycle. Some constraints for the operating parameters of the power plant have also been taken into account, regarding for instance the steam quality at the turbine outlet and the steam turbine blade height. Some numerical results have been reported in the paper, comparing the different objective functions for heat recovery steam generators coupled with several gas turbines; the developed parametric analysis has been performed in order to evaluate the influence of some parameters on both the heat recovery steam generator and the whole bottoming cycle.