Gas turbine performance increase using an air cooler with a phase change energy storage

Gas turbine inlet air cooling improves its performance. Inlet air cooling process is studied including a phase change refrigeration storage which consists in the use of a cylindrical tank filled with encapsulated phase change materials (PCM). The modelling of a plant is carried out and tested for a hot and wet climate (New Delhi in August). It makes it possible to design each component and to quantify the benefit of the use of a refrigeration storage. The inlet air cooling enables the designer to select a lower capacity turbine or to increase the performance of the installed turbine.