According to the principle of "energy complementarity and cascade utilization"

the performance of three coupling modes between the superheated steam at the solar collector outlet and the heat recovery steam generator in an integrated solar combined cycle is investigated. The effects of several factors

such as fuel consumption

fuel-based thermal efficiency

exergy efficiency

exergy loss rate

fossil fuel saving rate and superheated steam temperature at the solar collector outlet

on the performance of the proposed system were compared. The results show that

coupling the superheated steam of the solar field to the outlet of the high-pressure evaporator of the heat recovery steam generator shows a perfect performance. Compared with the conventional combined cycle power plant with no solar field

the fuel consumption reduces by 1.12 kg/s

the fuel-based thermal efficiency increases by 4.6%

the exergy efficiency increases by 4.3%

the exergy loss rate reduces by 5.2%

and the fossil fuel saving rate reduces by 7.7%. In addition

the economic analysis reveals that the fuel saving cost and CO_2 reduction is 24.083 million yuan and 20 047.5 t per year.