The calculation of the firing temperature is one of the most important calculations in the combined cycle performance computation. Test results can also be used for comparison to a design number, to trend performance changes over time, to help evaluate possible modifications or to validate them, or for any application in which the overall plant performance is needed.

Test results can then be used as defined by a contract for the basis of determination of fulfillment of contract guarantees. Test results provide a measure of the performance of a power plant or thermal island at a specified cycle configuration, operating disposition and/or fixed power level, and at a unique set of base reference conditions.ĭue to the thermal stability requirement of PTC 46, only the short-term solar system testing discussed in earlier sections strictly fits into this dictate, though many of the specific code requirements are applicable to the longer multi-day tests as well, as can be seen in the following paragraphs. As stated in the introduction to the Code, the objective of PTC 46 is to provide uniform test methods and procedures for the determination of the thermal performance and electrical output of heat-cycle electric power plants at a steady-state condition over a few hours, and provides explicit procedures for the determination of the following performance results: corrected net power, corrected heat rate or efficiency, and corrected heat input. The ASME Performance Test Code 46 (PTC 46) entitled “Overall Plant Performance” is internationally respected and often used for overall plant performance testing.

Prahl, in The Performance of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) Systems, 2017 5.3.7.4 ASME PTC 46

Asme ptc 19.2