Applied Thermal Engineering 26 (2006) 320–326

www.elsevier.com/locate/apthermeng

Short Communication

Case study: Effect of ambient temperature on the

electricity production and fuel consumption of a simple cycle
gas turbine in Turkey
Hasan Hüseyin Erdem *, Süleyman Hakan Sevilgen
Yildiz Technical University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, 34349 Istanbul, Turkey

Received 3 November 2004; accepted 19 August 2005

Available online 5 October 2005

Abstract

Efficiency and electric-power output of gas turbines vary according to the ambient conditions. The amount of these variations
greatly affects electricity production, fuel consumption and plant incomes. Since ambient conditions are dependent upon the place
where gas turbine is installed, they cannot be changed. At the same time, the amount of performance variation with the ambient
conditions also depends on the gas turbines design parameters. Therefore, in order to determine the actual performance variation
with the ambient conditions, gas turbine design parameters and ambient conditions of the installed place should be known. For this
purpose, two gas turbine models and seven climate regions of Turkey are considered in this study. For both two models, by using
average monthly temperature data of the regions, annual electricity production loss and fuel consumption increase compared to
those in standard design conditions (sea level, 15 °C, 60% relative humidity). Electricity production loss is about 2.87–0.71% take
place, compared to the standard annual production rate in hot regions. Electricity production loss occurs in all regions during the
periods when the temperature is above the 15 °C standard ambient temperature and loss rates vary between 1.67% and 7.22%
depending upon the regions. Electricity generation increases for about 0.27–10.28% when inlet air is cooled to 10 °C.
Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Gas turbine; Electricity production; Fuel consumption

1. Introduction turbines are the mostly affected ones in all conventional

The amount of electricity production is much more
important for electricity production companies during
peak demands. Because, due to the high sale prices dur-
ing peak periods, incomes and profit raise. However, the
amount of electricity production is not constant in
power plants and is affected by ambient conditions (tem-
perature, pressure and relative humidity) dependent on
the plant type and characteristics. Because the ambient
air is used directly as working fluid in the system, gas
*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 216 2597070 2727; fax: +90 216
2616774.
E-mail address: herdem@yildiz.edu.tr (H.H. Erdem).
power generation systems. Effect of temperature is much
more significant than other ambient conditions [1]. Vari-
ations in performance criteria, electric-power output
and efficiency, with the air conditions affect the amount
of electricity production and its cost in considerable
amounts. It is not possible to generalize the performance
variation values for all gas turbines [2].
Gas turbines are designed for standard air conditions.
However, operating periods at off-design conditions are
much greater than that at design conditions. If operating
periods at off-design conditions last for extended peri-
ods, especially depending on the place where gas turbine
is installed, measures for performance enhancement
should be taken. Compressor inlet air cooling has been

1359-4311/$ - see front matter Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2005.08.002
 H.H. Erdem, S.H. Sevilgen / Applied Thermal Engineering 26 (2006) 320–326 321

discussed in various studies [3,4]. Mechanical chilling, inlet air temperature to 10 °C in order to enhance per-
absorption cooling and evaporative cooling have been formance and to provide a constant production, power
considered as compressor inlet air cooling methods in augmentation and fuel consumption variations are
previous studies [2–10]. Arrieta and Lora [11] have ana- determined for the regions.
lyzed the effect of ambient conditions in combined cycle
on electric-power generation. As a result, they have
shown that there could be a 75 MW net power change 2. Effect of ambient temperature on electricity production
in 600 MW. Alhazmy and Najjar [12] have studied the
effect of two different types of air coolers on perfor- Electricity production changes depending on the
mance of gas turbine. They have shown that perfor- effect of ambient temperature on gas turbine.
mance of gas turbine changes dependent on climate Ambient temperature depending on the location site
conditions and type of coolers. In hot climate, they have has to be determined to calculate actual annual produc-
calculated that the most convenient type of cooler pro- tion. For a location whose monthly average temper-
vides electric-power enhancement up to 7%. Kakaras atures are known, monthly electricity production (Em)
et al. [13], by using computer simulation have shown may be written as follows:
that performance decreases with the increase of ambient
temperature in gas turbine which are used in cogenera- Em ¼ N
LF m
G
24 ð1Þ
tion and combined cycle. They have concluded that where LF is the monthly load factor, G is the number of
the use of evaporative cooler and absorption chiller pro- days in that particular month and N is the power:
vides increase in efficiency and power output. It would  
ka1  
be much convenient to decide whether the performance P 1 W t cpa
N ¼ V_  P rc ka  1 ð2Þ
enhancement methods or which type should be used Ra T 1 gcis
after evaluation of detailed climate conditions of in-
stalled place [14]. The revenue achieved by implementing where P1 is inlet pressure and Ra is air ideal gas con-
enhancement should be much greater than its cost. The stant, V_ is volumetric flow rate, Wt is the turbine work,
gain is the power augmentation and fuel consumption T1, compressor inlet temperature, gcis, compressor isen-
savings. tropic efficiency, ka, air specific heat ratio and Prc, com-
Standard air conditions in gas turbine designing are pressor pressure ratio.
sea level, 15 °C temperatures and 60% relative humidity Annual electricity production E may be written as:
[8]. Power output while operating in these conditions is
X
12
named as the standard power. Analyses performed pre- E¼ N i
LF mi
Gi
24 ð3Þ
viously, showed that operating below these temperature i¼1
improved performance and operating above these tem-
perature degraded performance [8–10]. However, gas where i represents the month in which electricity is pro-
turbine design parameters, compressor pressure ratio duced. In a condition where operation takes place in
and turbine inlet temperature (TIT), determine the effect standard air conditions, annual standard electricity pro-
of ambient conditions on the performance. duction (Es) may be written as follows because power
Gas turbines utilized in electric-power generation are generation at 15 °C (Ns) remains constant:
manufactured in two classes which are heavy-duty and X
12
aeroderivative. These two classes of turbines have differ- Es ¼ N s LF mi
Gi
24 ð4Þ
ent performance, cost, partial load behavior, as well as i¼1
different performance variations with the ambient tem-
perature [2]. Electricity production difference brought up by
As mentioned in previous studies, performance loss in monthly varying ambient temperatures may be written,
depending on the difference between standard electricity
gas turbines depends on ambient conditions. This means
production and actual production:
that, performance loss in gas turbines should be deter-
mined for each region or country. In this paper, power X
12

output and thermal efficiency changes of gas turbine DE ¼ ðN s  N mi Þ
LF mi
Gmi
24 ð5Þ

i¼1
within the ambient temperature effect have been ana-
lyzed. After, annual electricity production and annual
fuel consumption differences between standard condi-
tions and actual conditions have been determined. 3. Effect of ambient temperature on fuel consumption
Two models, one representing aeroderivative and the
other heavy-duty are employed for analyses. Average Due to the effect of ambient temperature on thermal
monthly temperatures of seven geographic regions are efficiency, fuel consumption per unit electricity produc-
used in analyses as ambient temperatures. When cooling tion changes.
322 H.H. Erdem, S.H. Sevilgen / Applied Thermal Engineering 26 (2006) 320–326

In a region where monthly average temperatures are where cpg is the constant pressure specific heat of com-
known, monthly fuel consumption (Fm) can be written bustion products, TIT is the turbine inlet temperature,
depending on fuel lower heating value (LHV), thermal gtis turbine isentropic efficiency, kg combustion gases
efficiency and monthly electricity production: specific heat ratio and Prt turbine pressure ratio, cbp is
3600 the average specific heat in combustion chamber and
Fm ¼
N
LF m
G
24 ð6Þ gb is the combustion efficiency.
LHV
gp
Annual fuel consumption (F) is obtained by the sum
where gp is thermal efficiency equation, we obtain: of monthly consumptions:
2 2 3 3 X
12
3600
 ka 1  F ¼
N i
LF mi
Gi
24 ð8Þ
6 6 7 7 LHV
gpi
6cpg
TIT
gtis 61  1  7  cpa
T 1 P ðrc ka Þ 1 7
gb i¼1
4 4 k g 1 5 g 5
kg
cis Annual fuel consumption (Fs) in standard conditions
P rt
gp ¼   ka 1 
is:
1 ð Þ
cpb
TITT 1 1þ P rc ka 1 X12
gcis 3600
Fs ¼
Ns LF mi
Gi
24 ð9Þ
ð7Þ LHV
gps i¼1

Mediterranean Marmara Aegean

Central Anatolia Eastern Anatolia Southeastern Anatolia
Black Sea
35

30

25
Temperature ºC

20

15

10

0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
-5

Fig. 1. Average monthly temperature distributions of regions.

Table 1
Assumption of models
Model 1 (M1) Model 2 (M2)
Standard power Ns 131.26 kW
Standard ambient temperature T1 15 °C
Standard ambient pressure P1 1 atm
Standard air mass flow rate ma 1 0.577 kg/s
Compressor isentropic efficiency gcis 0.85
Turbine isentropic efficiency gtis 0.87
Turbine inlet temperature TIT 1100 1400 K
Turbine pressure rate Prt 12.6 26.1
Compressor pressure rate Prc 14 29
Air specific heat at constant pressure cpa 1.005 kJ/kg K
Gas specific heat at constant pressure cpg 1.147 kJ/kg K
Combustion chamber specific heat at constant pressure cpb 1.15 kJ/kg K
Combustion efficiency gb 0.98
Air ideal gas constant Ra 0.287 kJ/kg K
Air specific ratio ka 1.4
Gas specific ratio kg 1.333
Fuel lower heat value LHV 43 800 kJ/N m3
 H.H. Erdem, S.H. Sevilgen / Applied Thermal Engineering 26 (2006) 320–326 323

where gps is the thermal efficiency in standard con-

3.78

0.236
0.238
ditions.

1193
1150

1.86

2.74
281
274
M2

21
Black Sea
4. Analyses for geographic regions of Turkey

372.7
362.1

0.311
0.315
1200
1150
4.33

2.13

2.92
M1

25
Gas turbines annual electricity production and fuel
consumptions have been analyzed for TurkeyÕs geo-

Southeastern Anatolia
graphic regions. Turkey is classified into seven regions

2.51

1.82
whose geographic and climate conditions are internally

268.9
273.9

0.240
0.238
1121
1150

6.30
M2

72
similar. Average monthly temperatures have been deter-
mined by utilizing the temperature measurements of 218
pointsÕ of these regions [15]. In Fig. 1 average monthly

2.87

1.78
355.7
362.1

0.318
0.315
1117
1150

7.22
temperatures are shown.

M1

83
In order to determine actual annual electricity pro-
duction in the regions, two models have been developed.
Model specifications are given in Table 1. In model 1

287.5
273.9

0.238
0.238
Eastern Anatolia

1207
1150
5.01

1.67

4.97
M2

19
TIT = 1100 K and Prc = 14. In model 2 TIT = 1400 K
and Prc = 29. Turbine pressure ratios are determined
by the aid of pressure losses. Mass flow rate in model

381.0
362.1

0.307
0.315
1240
1150
7.85

2.62

5.22
M1
1 is assumed to be 1 kg/s. On the other hand, in order

30
to obtain the same power output in standard conditions
of model, 0.577 kg/s air flow is assumed for model 2.

283.7
273.9

0.235
0.238
Central Anatolia
Owing to this, compression of ambient temperatureÕs

1206
1150
4.90

2.21

3.55
M2

25
effect on gas turbines having different design parameters
but giving the same output in standard conditions could
be possible. Natural gas is assumed as fuel.

375.7
362.1

0.309
0.315
1214
1150
5.62

2.54

3.76
M1
Using model specifications and average monthly tem-

29
Annual electricity productions, production losses, fuel consumptions and fuel per unit electricity

perature distributions of regions, the difference between

standard and actual annual electricity production has 0.71

0.52
272.5
273.9

0.239
0.238
been calculated in terms of percentage. Monthly loading
1142
1150

4.01
M2

46

factor is assumed 1 in calculations. In Table 2, results

that had been achieved are given. Negative values in
Aegean

table represent electricity production loss in actual pro-

0.82

0.43
360.5
362.1

0.316
0.315
1140
1150

4.60
M1

duction compared to standard production and positive

53

values represent excess electricity production. A loss in

annual electricity production has been seen in Mediter-
276.6
273.9

0.237
0.238

ranean, Aegean and southeastern Anatolia regions.

1165
1150
1.32

2.97

0.96
M2

34

Therefore, for gas turbine electricity production per-

spective these regions are named hot regions and others
Marmara

cold regions. Largest drop of 2.87% was observed in

366.0
362.1

0.314
0.315
1167
1150
1.52

3.40

1.09
M1

southeastern Anatolia region for model 1. Largest aug-

39

mentation of 7.85% was observed in eastern Anatolia

for model 1. Another important result is the ambient
1.72

1.25
270.5
273.9

0.239
0.238
1130
1150

temperature sensitivity of the gas turbines having differ-

4.52
M2

52
Mediterranean

ent design parameters. Model 1 gas turbine has larger

production loss and augmentation with ambient temper-
ature in hot regions compared to model 2 turbine
1.97

1.19
357.8
362.1

0.317
0.315
1127
1150

5.18
M1

because they are much more sensitive to ambient

60

temperature.
Electricity production losses occur in all regions
Fs 103 N m3/year

when ambient temperature is above 15 °C. In Table 2,

F 103 N m3/year

qs N m3/kW h
ET1>15 MW h

q N m3/kW h

electricity production losses and loss percentages of

DET1>15%
Es MW h

the regions compared to standard production are given

E MW h
Table 2

for the period when T1 > 15 °C. In Figs. 2 and 3, loss

DE %

DF %

and excess electricity productions compared to monthly

324 H.H. Erdem, S.H. Sevilgen / Applied Thermal Engineering 26 (2006) 320–326

Marmara Aegean Mediterranean

Central Anatolia Eastern Anatolia Southeastern Anatolia
Black Sea

30
25
20

Electricity [MWh]
15
10
5
0
-5 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
-10
-15
-20
-25

Fig. 2. Electricity production losses and excess of regions with ambient temperature for model 1.

Marmara Aegean Mediterranean

Central Anatolia Eastern Anatolia Southeastern Anatolia
Black Sea
30
25
20
Electricity [MWh]

15
10
5
0
-5 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

-10
-15
-20
-25

Fig. 3. Electricity production losses and excess of regions with ambient temperature for model 2.

standard production and ambient temperatures are
shown graphically. In figures negative area represents
electricity production. In hot regions, both the period
of production lasts longer and production loss is greater.
In this paper, effect of ambient temperature on ther-
mal efficiency and fuel consumption has also been
analyzed. Utilizing average monthly temperatures of
the regions, standard and actual fuel consumptions have
been calculated and results are given in Table 2. The
examination of the table, shows that fuel consumption
in hot regions decreases and increases in cold regions.
However, fuel consumption decrease rate is lower than
electricity production loss. The reason for that is the
thermal efficiency decrease with ambient temperature
and thereby increasing the fuel consumption. However,
due to lower fuel consumption decrease compared to
electricity production loss, fuel consumption for unit
electricity production increases (Table 2).
Inlet air is cooled to eliminate the effect of ambient
temperature to gas turbine performance. Utilizing aver-
age temperatures of regions, electricity production and
fuel consumption variations have been determined for
cooling inlet air to 10 °C. If the data for regions in Table
3 are examined, it can be seen that cooling inlet air tem-
perature to 10 °C results production augmentation in
the range of 0.23–11.30%. More power augmentation
is observed in model 1. In Table 3, annual fuel consump-
tions and fuel required for unit electricity productions
are given for a cooled inlet air. When inlet air is cooled
to 10 °C, fuel consumption per unit electricity is
0.308 N m3/kW h for model 1 and 0.234 N m3/kW h
for model 2.
 H.H. Erdem, S.H. Sevilgen / Applied Thermal Engineering 26 (2006) 320–326 325

5. Results

288.7

0.234
1233
3.31

2.57
M2
If gas turbines are utilized for electricity production,
their performances vary with ambient temperature. Per-

Black Sea
formance variation, annual electricity production and

382.6

0.308
1243
3.62

2.67
M1
fuel consumption become sensitive to ambient condi-
tions of gas turbine operation location. Electricity pro-
duction and fuel consumptions of two gas turbine
Southeastern Anatolia

models for the monthly average temperatures of geo-

288.7 graphic regions of Turkey, had been analyzed. Depend-

0.234
1233
9.97

7.34
M2

ing on the monthly temperature variations, electricity

production loss about 2.87–0.71% compared to stan-
dard production occur in hot regions. In other regions
11.30
382.6

0.308
1243

an augmentation of 1.32–7.85% is achieved. In all

7.59
M1

regions, when temperature is above 15 °C, especially in

summer, a production loss in the range of 1.67–7.22%
occurs. This loss is more significant in hot regions. An-
Eastern Anatolia

288.7

0.238
1214
0.53

0.39
M2

other important result is that gas turbines having lower

turbine inlet temperatures and compressor pressure
ratios are much more sensitive to ambient temperatures.
382.6

0.308
1243
0.23

0.43

Because of varying thermal efficiency with ambient

M1

temperatures in gas turbines, annual fuel consumptions

change. However, thermal efficiency change remains
below electricity production and therefore in cold re-
Central Anatolia

288.7

0.234
1233
2.20

1.76
M2

gions fuel consumption per unit electricity decreases

while it increases in hot regions.
Increase in ambient temperatures in hot regions not
382.6

0.308
1243
2.36

1.84
M1

only decreases electricity production but it also increases

fuel consumption per unit electricity production. When
cooling inlet air to 10 °C, a power augmentation in the
288.7

0.234
1233
7.98

5.93

range of 0.37–7.59% is obtained. At these conditions,

M2

specific fuel consumption per unit electricity is 0.308

N m3/kW h for model 1 and 0.234 N m3/kW h for
Aegean

382.6

0.308

model 2.
1243
9.00

6.14
M1
Power augmentation and fuel consumption change with inlet air cooling

References
288.7

0.234
1233
5.81

4.38
M2

[1] R.L. Loud, A.A. Slaterpryce, Gas Turbine Inlet Air Treatment,
Marmara

37th GE Turbine State of the Art Technology Seminar (1993).

[2] M. Chaker, C.B. Meher-Homji, T. Mee, A. Nicholson, Inlet
382.6

0.308
1243
6.49

4.54
M1

fogging of gas turbine engines detailed climatic analysis of gas

turbine evaporation cooling potential in the USA, Journal of
Engineering for Gas Turbine and Power 125 (2003) 300–309.
[3] R. Gareta, L.M. Romeo, A. Gil. The effect of inlet air cooling
288.7

0.234
1233
9.09

6.72
M2
Mediterranean

system in combined cycle performance, POWER-GEN 2001,

Bruselos, 2001.
[4] M.A. Ait-Ali, Optimum power boosting of gas turbine cycles with
10.28
382.6

0.308

compressor inlet air refrigeration, Journal of Engineering for Gas

1243

6.95
M1

Turbine and Power 119 (1997) 124–130.

[5] F.J. Wang, J.S. Chiou, Performance improvement for a simple
cycle gas turbine GENSET—a retrofitting example, Applied
DFT1=10 103 N m3/year

Thermal Engineering 22 (10) (2002) 1105–1115.

FT1=10 103 N m3/year

[6] Y.S.H. Najjar, Enhancement of performance of gas turbine

qT1=10 N m3/kW h

engines by inlet air cooling and cogeneration system, Applied

ET1=10 MW h

Thermal Engineering 16 (2) (1996) 163–173.

[7] O.O. Badran, Gas-turbine performance improvements, Applied
DET1=10%

Energy 64 (1–4) (1999) 263–273.

Table 3

[8] A.D. Hall, J.C. Stover, R.B. Breisch, Gas turbine inlet-air chilling
at a cogeneration facility, ASHRE Transactions 100 (1994), Part 1.
326 H.H. Erdem, S.H. Sevilgen / Applied Thermal Engineering 26 (2006) 320–326
[9] A.M. Bassily, Effects of evaporative inlet and after cooling on the
recuperated gas turbine cycle, Applied Thermal Engineering 21
(18) (2001) 1875–1890.
[10] R. Gareta, L.M. Romeo, A. Gil. Economic optimization of gas
turbine inlet air—cooling systems in combined cycle applications,
Center for Power Plant Efficiency Research, ECOS 2002, Vol. 1,
409–415.
[11] F.R.P. Arrieta, E.E.S. Lora, Influence of ambient temperature on
combined-cycle power-plant performance, Applied Energy 80
(2005) 261–272.
[12] M.M. Alhazmy, Y.S.H. Najjar, Augmentation of gas turbine
performance using air coolers, Applied Thermal Engineering 24
(2004) 415–429.
[13] E. Kakaras, A. Doukelis, S. Karellas, Compressor intake-air
cooling in gas turbine plants, Energy 29 (2004) 2347–2358.
[14] M.D. Lucia, R. Bronconi, E. Carnevale, Performance and
economic enhancement of cogeneration gas turbines through
compressor inlet air cooling, Journal of Engineering for Gas
Turbine and Power 116 (1994) 360–365.
[15] Turkey Climate Data, TTMD Publishing, Ankara, 2000.