Title: Exergy analysis of a steam power plant: a case study in Iran

Authors: Mofid Gorji-Bandpy, Vahid Ebrahimian

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Mazandaran, P.O. Box 484, Babol, Iran. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Mazandaran, P.O. Box 484, Babol, Iran

Abstract: In the last decades, exergy analysis, based on the second law of thermodynamics was a method that substituted the energy analysis in studying thermodynamic systems. In this paper, the cycle of a power plant and its details, with two kinds of fuels, natural gas and diesel, have been analysed at its maximum load and the two factors, losses and exergy efficiency, which are the basic factors used to study systems, have been analysed. The results show that the boiler of a power plant is the most effective section in eliminating exergy. In case of energy analysis, condenser losses the most of heat. The losses and exergy efficiency of the processes of the boiler including heat transfer and combustion were studied, and the effect of changes in the inner conditions of the boiler and the effects of the environmental conditions on the efficiency were scrutinised. The exergy analysis of the boiler shows that heat transfer processes involve more exergy destruction than combustion processes.

Keywords: exergy analysis; heating plant cycle; internal energy; work transfer rate; plant boiler; steam power plants; Iran; second law; thermodynamics; natural gas; diesel; heat transfer; combustion; exergy destruction.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2007.011579

International Journal of Exergy, 2007 Vol.4 No.1, pp.54 - 73

Published online: 03 Dec 2006 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article