Thermodynamic analysis of a thermal power plant and investigation of irreversibilities of thermal processes

The energy and exergy analysis of Cayırhan power plant with 160 MW thermal power has been presented in this study. For each component the energy and exergy losses were computed. The results showed 45.8% energy loss occurring in the condenser, while 8.43% energy loss comes from the boiler. The maximum percentage ratio of the exergy destruction to the total exergy destruction in the boiler reaches 58.05%, the second occurs in turbine about 5.68%.The thermal efficiency of the power cycle is 42.76%, while the exergy efficiency is 33.48%. Combustion process and heat transfer between large temperature differences are the most significant source of exergy destruction in the boiler of the power plant. Although the exergy destruction and the exergy efficiency of each component in the system is alterable under the different working conditions, the total exergy efficiency for overall system stayed the same with different temperature under certain working condition.