Discussion on “Beyond Brayton Cycle: It is Time to Change the Paradigm” (S. Can Gülen, ASME J. Eng. Gas Turbine Power, 140(11), p. 111703)

The author is to be commended for his excellent paper showing potential efficiency and value advantage for alternative system architectures over today's highly evolved state of the art (SOA) gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) offerings. Dr. Gülen has deftly outlined the second law constraints facing the engineers immersed in the difficult task of configuring next generation equipment and plant solutions. There are many technology options to be considered, each of which is uniquely positioned across the full complement of customer value parameters by thermodynamic entitlement, the maturity of core technologies, and the development and projected mature system costs. On top of these technical constraints are complex and rapidly changing market dynamics. Today's markets support a broad range of gas fired plants including simple cycle peakers (all sizes), small industrial size systems (often in CHP configurations), and large midrange or base-loaded plants of the H/J class. How will these markets change...