Patent ID: 6134873
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: F02C,F05D,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of operating a combustion turbine power generation system and derivatives thereof comprising:providing at least one combustion turbine assembly including a compressor, an expansion turbine operatively associated with said compressor, a generator coupled with one of said expansion turbine and said compressor; a combustor feeding said expansion turbine; flow path structure fluidly connecting an outlet of said compressor to an inlet of said combustor; a compressed air storage; a charging compressor structure for charging said air storage; charging structure fluidly connecting an outlet of said charging compressor structure with an inlet to said air storage; connection structure fluidly connecting an outlet of said air storage to an inlet of a saturator, a water heater to heat water directed to said saturator, a recuperator for receiving preheated and saturated compressed air, an outlet of said recuperator being in fluid communication with said combustor; and valve structure associated with said connection structure and said charging structure to control flow through said connection structure and said charging structure, respectively,controlling said valve structure to selectively permit one of the following modes of operation:a combustion turbine mode of operation wherein air compressed from said compressor moves through said flow path structure to said combustor feeding said expansion turbine such that said expansion turbine drives said generator,a compressed air augmentation mode of operation wherein supplemental compressed air from said air storage is supplied through said connection structure and is saturated and pre-heated in said saturator and further heated in said recuperator and then directed to said combustor, in addition to compressed air passing through said flow path structure to said combustor, which increases mass flow of compressed air and gas to said expansion turbine, andan air storage charging mode of operation wherein compressed air from said charging compressor structure moves through said charging structure to charge said air storage.