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Document Type

Original Study

Abstract

Evaluating the thermodynamic performance of combined cycle power plants (CCPPs) requires a comprehensive understanding of both energy quantity and energy quality across highly integrated components, including the gas turbine, heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), steam turbine, and condenser. This study presents a structured critical review of recent developments in energy and exergy analysis of CCPPs, covering studies published between 2001 and 2025. Unlike previous descriptive summaries, this work introduces a comparative synthesis framework that critically evaluates component-level losses, thermodynamic irreversibilities, and system optimization strategies across conventional and advanced CCPP configurations. The review shows that the condenser is the dominant source of energy loss, while the combustion chamber exhibits the highest exergy destruction due to chemical irreversibilities and temperature gradients. Comparative case studies on solar-assisted combined cycles and CO2 capture integration are also discussed to highlight practical performance trade-offs. The findings indicate that exergy-based assessment provides deeper insight than conventional energy analysis alone and offers a robust framework for performance enhancement, sustainability improvement, and future low-carbon power plant design.

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