Turbine Inlet Cooling

Thermal Energy Storage (TES) for Turbine Inlet Cooling (TIC)

Retrofit for Chiller Based TIC-

The Vacuum Ice Maker (VIM) can be integrated with any existing TIC based on a mechanical chiller. This approach to the existing TIC system offers a greater degree of redundancy and ensures continued operation of the power plant overall. In addition, the integrated approach allows for better seasonal efficiency of the chiller and minimizes power consumption due to the generally lower night temperatures during the TES charging cycle.

The VIM produces non-coagulative ice slurry, which is the ideal medium for TES. The ice slurry contains up to 25% ice crystals when leaving the freezer chamber, which provides easy pumping and has a flexibility of storage in any reservoir. The storage reservoir can be any ample tank without any internals and/or moving parts, which greatly simplifies maintenance and minimizes repair costs. During the charging cycle, ice slurry concentration increases up to 50% inside the TES tank.