Caspian Combined-Cycle Power Plant in northern Mazandaran Province has started commercial operation after a period of extensive testing and trial operation, the project director of private power stations at the Thermal Power Plants Holding Company said.
“The power plant in Noshahr, west of Mazandaran, is the first single-shaft combined-cycle power station in Iran that uses F-Class gas turbines,” IRNA also quoted Rouhollah Espanani as saying.
Modern technology used in the power plant reduces gas consumption by up to 200 million cubic meters a year, such that the plant will use 30% less water in comparison with its peers.
“The 460-MW combined-cycle plant consists of a 310-MW gas unit and a 150-MW steam unit, with a total efficiency of 58%,” he added.
A single-shaft configuration means that both the gas turbine and steam turbine are arranged on one shaft and drive the same generator. Having a single generator connected to the grid offers financial, operational and footprint advantages for the single-shaft arrangement.
For instance, one generator means one set of bus ducts and one generator breaker, generator step-up transformer and switchyard.
In many cases, choosing a single-shaft arrangement rather than a multi-shaft design can result in capital expense savings of 3-5% for the plant.
Single-shaft configurations also require fewer mechanical connections that translate into lower losses.
Costing $305 million, the plant has been built on 8 hectares by Arian MahTaab Gostar Company.
A combined-cycle power plant uses both gas and steam turbines to produce up to 50% more electricity from the same fuel than a traditional simple-cycle plant. Waste heat from the gas turbine is routed to the nearby steam turbine to generate electricity.
The northern Mazandaran Province has over 1.8 million subscribers, of which 580,000 live in the western part where the plant is located. The plant supplies a part of the electricity demand in the west of the province in addition to compensating regional network voltage drop when needed.
A private sector pioneer in the field of power generation investment, Arian MahTaab Gostar was established in 2002 to contribute to power industry growth and help meet electricity demand by boosting investment in the sector.
TPPHC purchases the generated electricity for a specified period (minimum 10 years). After the guaranteed purchase period, the plant will be allowed to sell power through the energy bourse.
