Degradation of Combined Cycle Power Plant.

All power plants will experience some kind of performance deterioration with time. In
normal operation of the combined cycle plant, more than 2/3 of the degradation comes
from the gas turbines and the rest from the steam turbine, HRSG and the balance of
plant. The degradation of the combined cycle depends on many parameters, such as:
• air borne contamination (eg. dust, pollen, humidity)
• compressor inlet filter efficiency
• operational regime of the power plant (eg. base load, trips, starts)
• compressor washing frequency (on and off line washes)
• maintenance schedules (eg minor/major outages, filter changes)
• steam turbine, HRSG and balance of plant operation and maintenance
• types of fuel utilised in the gas turbine and/or HRSG (eg. gas, light/heavy oil)
• steam and/or water injection

Degradations are classified as recoverable, non-recoverable and permanent.

Recoverable loss is usually associated with the gas turbine compressor fouling and
can be partially rectified by water washing or, more thoroughly, by mechanically
cleaning the compressor blades and vanes after opening unit. Non recoverable loss is
due to increased turbine and compressor clearances and changes in surface finish and
air flow through the blade paths. Since this loss is caused by reduction in component
efficiencies, it can not be recovered by external maintenance of major components or
compressor cleaning, but only through replacement of major components. The third
component of the total degradation is the permanent degradation which can never be
recovered unless the whole power plant is completely replaced with all new
components.

Generalising and quantifying performance degradation is difficult to obtain consistent,

valid field data is hard to obtain. Correlation between various sites is impacted by
variables such as types of fuels, mode of operating regime, air borne contaminations,
relative humidity, maintenance schedules, steam/water injection. Another problem in
obtaining consistent data is the use of test and/or plant instrumentation which have
varying tolerances.

The degradation values are based with time and these values may vary from
manufacturer to manufacturer and from site to site. The curves provided by the
manufacturers may be based on actual operating hours (OH) or equivalent operating
hours (EOH). It is not the intention of this Test Code to go into the commercial
impact of the degradation factors provided by the manufacturers. The type of
degradation (OH or EOH) and its commissioning hours and the initiation of the start
and finish hours allowed by the supplier should be finalised at the contract stages
between the parties involved.

Typical profile of curve for the loss in degradation on power and efficiency is given
below:
 Time (OH or EOH)
Permanent
degradation
Non-recoverable Recovery due to
maintenance
degradation
Recoverable Recovery due to on/off
Degradation line washing

Degradation in
Power or efficiency

Jeff Parmar
4 August 2003