A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the requirement of the degree of Master of Engineering

Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1995

The application of energy storage in the field of electricity production is of growing interest. Shortage of electricity produced by electric utility during peak period of the day, partly can be reduced by using thermal energy storage system. It's consists of charging a storage system during low demand periods, this energy is delivered or contributed to delivered to the grid at periods of peak demand. This load- leveling influences the electricity production in two ways, first with respect to costs; The installed capacity required is diminished, this results in lower investment costs for the electricity production system. Second, with respect to fuel requirements. A higher efficiency and thus a lower fuel input is realized. This study concerned with potential evaluation of using mechanical and absorption chillers application in gas turbine inlet air cooling to boost up the output of generator during peak hours. A case of Bang Pakong Combine Cycle Plant and Nong Chok Open Cycle gas turbine are considered. The study includes ice storage and chilled water storage applied to different gas turbine performance. The evaluation include sensitivity of different alternative to install thermal storage compared with new gas turbine power plant. Economic evaluation of thermal storage system was show by some economic indicators discount payback period, net present value and internal rate of return. The result show that investing in thermal storage, cost is 30 to 60% of investment cost of new gas turbine plant, a discount payback period of 3 years and internal rate of return upto 40%.