Combined cycle gas turbines (solar and natural gas)

Lumique

Not sure if I've posted it on the correct thread but I don't think this classifies as advanced physics!
I'm currently doing a physics assignment where we have to choose an energy source for a town in Australia (Broome).
I am choosing to use a combined cycle gas turbine with natural gas as the main source and solar troughs to partially mitigate green house gases and make use of renewable energy sources around the place.

I am just wanting to ask and confirm whether my physics is right....
So using CSP, the reflective surfaces focus the sunlight on a focal point where there is heating oil (or another substance) which heats up and is transferred to heat water into steam and that steam drives a turbine. The turbine is then connected to a generator which is a coiled wire that is spinning in a magnetic field which induces a current (here's where I get confused). Is there any other way of saying that in terms of Faraday's Law? And what then happens with the transformer?

At the same time, the natural gas is mixed with air and ignited to produce CO2, H2O and heat and that is pressurised to spin the turbine and the heat from those hot gases are used to heat more water into steam.

Just a few random questions if anyone knows the answer.
-What is the approximate cost of a CNG carrier
-Cost of building a combined cycle power station
-Cost of parabolic troughs? I have not been able to find any sources to tell me the price!


Thank you if you can help in any way!

Delphi51

Usually a generator is a spinning magnet whose magnetic field cuts through stationary coils of wire, generating an electric current.

The electric potential (voltage) of the generator is relatively low and therefore impractical for long transmission lines. A transformer steps up the voltage for efficient transmission.

Jobrag

Combined cycle usually refers to a gas turbine (or diesel) generator with a waste heat recovery unit (WHRU) or exhaust gas boiler in the flue, the heat recovered from the exhaust gas is turned into steam, to drive a steam turbine and increase the overall efficiency of the plant. The big problem with combined cycle is that you have to make a large investment in plant for a relatively small gain in efficiency, what you propose to do is introduce another layer of complexity for an even smaller gain.