Patent ID: 6470686
Filing Date: 2002-10-29
Classification: F01K,F02C,F25B,Y02A,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of chilling inlet air to a gas turbine power plant, comprising:a. providing a gas turbine power plant that includes at least one gas turbine and at least one compressor, and having a gas turbine inlet which receives inlet air; b. providing a system of circulating liquid chilling water including a chilling system that includes a first mechanical chiller and a second mechanical chiller, the first and second mechanical chillers being arranged in series; c. passing at least a portion of the liquid chilling water through the first mechanical chiller and the second mechanical chiller, the liquid chilling water passing through the first mechanical chiller being lowered to a first temperature, and the liquid chilling water passing through the second mechanical chiller being lowered to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature, thus providing a staged liquid chilling water temperature drop, wherein the staged liquid chilling water temperature drop is from about 20Â° F. to about 34Â° F.; d. providing an inlet air chiller, comprising a cooling coil through which liquid chilling water passes, for lowering the temperature of inlet air being fed to the compressor through heat transfer between the liquid chilling water passing through the cooling coil and the inlet air, wherein the inlet air chiller provides a liquid chilling water temperature rise of from about 20Â° F. to about 34Â° F.; and e. chilling the inlet air by directing the liquid chilling water to the inlet air chiller and passing the liquid chilling water through the cooling coil of the inlet air chiller to make heat transfer contact between the liquid chilling water and the inlet air.