Turbine Inlet Cooling (TIC)

Combustion Turbine (CT) or Gas Turbine (GT) power plants are increasingly utilized in simple cycle and combined cycle configurations for electric power generation. An inherent drawback is the CT's sharply diminished power output at times of high ambient air temperatures. These are coincidentally those times when power is in the greatest demand and has the highest market value. Turbine Inlet Cooling (TIC) is increasingly utilized to economically achieve a 20 to 30% increase in hot weather CT power output (and concurrently, approximately a 5% improvement in heat rate), by chilling the ambient air to as low as 40 to 50 ºF ( 4 to 10 ºC) before it enters the CT.

Cool Solutions Experience and Achievements in TIC

Having been involved in TIC applications since the early 1990s, the Cool Solutions staff is experienced with the various TIC technologies and their individual advantages and limitations for specific situations. Examples of our staff's many achievements with TIC include:

• Retrofit of TIC (using TES) to an existing CT Combined Cycle plant in the Southeastern U.S. , raising CT output from 26 to 34 MW, and realizing millions of dollars in NPV for the owner
• Retrofit of TIC (using waste heat-driven absorption chilling) to an existing CT Combined Cycle plant in the Northeastern U.S. , raising CT output from 34 to 42 MW, and achieving a 3-year simple payback for the owner
• Use of TES for a retrofit TIC project for 10 utility CTs in Saudi Arabia, adding 30% net power output for the owner, while savings millions of dollars in capital cost for the project developer
• A comprehensive Technical and Economic Evaluation of various Cool Storage Options for TIC for a major Midwestern U.S. utility

Professional Involvement and Leadership in TIC

Cool Solutions is a founding member of TICA (the Turbine Inlet Cooling Association), serving on its Board of Directors and as vice president, vice chair, and chair. Our staff has also long been actively involved in the ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Technical Committee for Combustion Turbine Inlet Cooling.

Customized Products and Services for TIC

We provide services to suit the unique needs of our individual clients.
Typical Cool Solutions products and services related to TIC include:

• Technical & Economic Feasibility Assessments
• Alternative Technology Comparative Analyses
• Conceptual Designs
• System Optimization
• Equipment Sizing and Specifications
• Oversight of Project Execution, Commissioning, Start-up and Performance Testing
• All Aspects of Project Development and Execution