Optimum design of combined cycle plant for electrical, heating and cooling energy supplies

A combined cycle plant for electrical, heating, and cooling energy supplies which has a double-pressure-type condenser and a water heater is proposed. Using the complex method of M. J. Box (1965), design parameters of the proposed plant are optimized. The evaluation function consists of four design parameters: the flow ratio of low-pressure exhaust steam to total exhaust steam, the pressure of low-pressure steam to the turbine, the outlet water temperature of the water heater, and the flow rate of condenser cooling water. Simulation studies for a plant with an absorption refrigerator prove that its overall heat utilization factor is improved by 3.2% compared with a plant which has a single-pressure-type condenser and no water heaters