Optimization of Power Unit Cooling Systems at the Syr Darya TPP Branch: Alternative Methods for El-evated Ambient Temperature Conditions

Abstract

amid climate change, water scarcity, and infrastructure modernization. Research suggests that its proposals for hybrid wet-dry systems, thermal pipes for oil cooling, and evaporative pre-cooling for refrigerants could mitigate efficiency losses of 1–3% per 10°C ambient rise above optimal, while achieving 30–80% water savings—critical in an arid region where summers exceed 45°C and water deficits are projected to reach 15 billion m³ annually by 2030. Evidence leans toward the article's timeliness, given Syrdarya TPP's ongoing expansions, including a new 1,573 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) unit slated for 2025–2026, financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and others, as part of broader efforts to boost capacity amid Uzbekistan's forecasted 6.2% GDP growth for 2025. It seems likely that these innovations align with national strategies like the 2025–2028 Water Resources Management Program, which emphasizes low-water technologies to counter risks from glacier melt. The evidence points to potential controversies, such as weighing upfront costs (20–30% higher for hybrids) against long-term benefits like reduced thermal pollution to the Syr Darya River and enhanced grid stability, especially as Central Asia faces accelerated warming, seasonal floods, and droughts that could amplify energy shortages.

Aim: Propose alternative cooling methods to enhance the efficiency of the Syrdarya Thermal Power Plant power units under high-temperature conditions (above 45°C), while minimizing efficiency losses to within 5% and achieving water savings of 30–40%.

Methods: During the research, to analyze the efficiency of power unit cooling systems under high-temperature conditions, modern methods of thermodynamic modeling based on the Rankine cycle and heat transfer equations were employed. For the comparative analysis of various cooling scenarios, a step-by-step calculation of steam parameters at characteristic points of the thermodynamic cycle was applied, with property interpolation using NIST data. Additionally, corresponding algorithms were developed to assess changes in the energy efficiency of power units and water resource savings under different temperature conditions.

Results: Based on the thermodynamic analysis of power unit cooling under high-temperature conditions, the study was conducted using models of the Syr Darya Thermal Power Plant. The results of the evaluation demonstrate that the proposed hybrid cooling system provides an optimal balance, achieving a cycle efficiency of 38.9% while reducing water consumption by 30–40% compared to conventional wet cooling methods, offering a sustainable solution for arid regions.