INTEGRATED SOLAR COMBINED CYCLE SYSTEM (ISCCS)

This project is related to the simulation studies carried out with the possibility of integrating
a combined cycle system power plant in Malaysia, with a suitable heat collecting system. The
Integrated Solar Combined Cycle System (ISCCS) consists of gas turbine (GT), Heat
Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) and steam generator (ST) with solar field. Solar energy
can be considered as an alternative to supplement the ever-decreasing supply of fossil fuels.
In year 2002, it was reported that the energy consumption and demand in Malaysia has
increased to 1.5% and 9.4% respectively, and energy demand is expected to grow at about 3
% to 4% over the next 20 years. Therefore, the need to ensure continuously sufficient supply
of power is vital. The focus of this project is to identify equations to model the operations of
combined cycle power plant. Simulations were carried out using Matlab software to increase
the power plant efficiency. Initial work carried out at Lumut Power Plant indicated that
without using HRSG system, the efficiency of gas turbine is around 33 %, but with HRSG
system, the plant's efficiency was improved up to 53 %. Through initial simulations carried
out based on local solar insolation data, instantaneous conversion efficiency improved to
around 58.7 %. The problem that plagues the implementation is related to the local
meteorological conditions. Through this project work, it was discovered that local
meteorological conditions, though on the whole is favorable, but cloudiness can distort the
efficiency of solar energy based systems. However, with proper planning, this so-called
catastrophic effect can be overcome and the measures are reported in this report.