Thermodynamic and thermoeconomic analysis of an intercooled regenerative reheat gas turbine cogeneration system: A case study for Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa

In this study, the gas turbine cogeneration system planned to be established in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa was modeled and the thermodynamic and thermoeconomic performance of the system was investigated. Energy, exergy, and economic analyses were conducted for the system, which consists of an intercooled regenerative reheat (IRR) gas turbine cycle and an absorption refrigeration cycle (ARC), for various operating parameters. Within the scope of the study, the effects of pressure ratio (8–16), compressor isentropic efficiency (80–88%), turbine isentropic efficiency (75–85%), generator temperature (90–100 °C), and evaporator temperature (0–5 °C) on system performance were evaluated, and accordingly, the energy utilization factor (EUF), levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), and levelized cost of cooling (LCOC) were determined. Additionally, the analyses were conducted under different ambient temperature conditions to evaluate the system’s performance under typical temperature scenarios observed in Côte d’Ivoire. Depending on the investigated parameter ranges, the energy efficiency of the IRR gas turbine varied between 35.17–42.72%, while the exergy efficiency ranged from 35.85–44.05%. In addition, the EUF of the IRR gas turbine cogeneration system varied between 60.43–63.30%, whereas the LCOE and LCOC ranged from 0.02527–0.04682 USD/kWh and 0.04839–0.07054 USD/kWh, respectively. Overall, the results highlight that the investigated operating parameters significantly affect the thermodynamic and thermoeconomic performance of the proposed IRR gas turbine cogeneration system.