Life Cycle Cost Analysis of a Novel Cooling and Power Gas Turbine Engine

A life cycle cost analysis was performed to compare life cycle costs of a novel gas turbine engine to those of a conventional microturbine with similar power capacity. This engine, called the high-pressure regenerative turbine engine (HPRTE), operates on a pressurized semiclosed cycle and is integrated with a vapor absorption refrigeration system. The HPRTE uses heat from its exhaust gases to power the absorption refrigeration unit, which cools the high-pressure compressor inlet of the HPRTE to below ambient temperatures and also produces some external refrigeration. The life cycle cost analysis procedure is based on principles laid out in the Federal Energy Management Program. The influence of different design and economic parameters on the life cycle costs of both technologies is analyzed. The results of this analysis are expressed in terms of the cost ratios of the two technologies. The pressurized nature of the HPRTE leads to compact components resulting in significant savings in equipment cost versus those of a microturbine. Revenue obtained from external refrigeration offsets some of the fuel costs for the HPRTE, thus proving to be a major contributor in cost savings for the HPRTE. For the base case of a high-pressure turbine (HPT) inlet temperature of 1373 K and an exit temperature of 1073 K, the HPRTE showed life cycle cost savings of 7% over a microturbine with a similar power capacity. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4003075]