Feasibility Study of a Multi-Purpose Computer Program for Optimizing Heat Rates in Power Cycles

A study of currently available commercial codes which evaluate the thermal performance of turbine cycles in power plants is presented. The analytical basis, capabilities, and possible applications of these codes are described. A survey of some user utilities has revealed their strengths and limitations. This paper examines some actual cases where the use of existing codes is either inconvenient or not satisfactory, and might produce somewhat inaccurate or incomplete results. A brief outline of a computer program that can overcome some of these weaknesses is given