Performance Evaluation of Gas Turbines: A Critical Review of Methods, Real-World Challenges, and a Proposed Unified Framework

The gas turbine is a powerful source of electricity in many developing countries. However, it has not always performed according to OEM recommendations, especially under hot and humid conditions and during frequent cycling. This critical review includes over 50 peer-reviewed studies (2009–2024) on the performance of gas turbines under ambient conditions, fuel quality, component degradation, cycling penalties, and methodological limitations. It highlights important issues, including limited field data from tropical and sub-Saharan Africa and reliance on OEM-controlled data. Field and laboratory studies from Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, and Indonesia show that deviations from the ISO 15°C can reduce net power output by 1.37%–2.5% per °C, and combining degradation can lead to 10%-30% power loss in ageing plants. The study suggests a Unified Performance Evaluation Framework based on thermodynamic, operational, and economic factors.

gas turbine performance; compressor fouling; ambient conditions; degradation mechanisms; fuel variability; flexible cycling; tropical climate; performance evaluation framework

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