ABSTRACT
This chapter covers the basic principles governing design, analysis and operation of heavy-duty industrial gas turbines used in electric power generation. It starts with a quick tour through the landscape of power-gen gas turbines to identify key hardware, actors (i.e., the original equipment manufacturers or OEMs) and terminology (e.g., “firing temperature”). The chapter includes rating performance data from major OEMs, basic performance calculations, e.g., heat and mass balance analysis of rating data, a brief introduction into compressor and turbine aerothermodynamics to illustrate the connection between cycle thermodynamics and actual hardware design. Fuel flexibility aspect of gas turbines is touched upon briefly as well.
