Patent ID: 6038849
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
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 said expansion turbine; a combustor feeding said expansion turbine; flow path structure fluidly connecting an outlet of said compressor to an inlet of said combustor; a supplemental compressor structure; connection structure fluidly connecting an outlet of said supplemental compressor structure 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 communication with said combustor; and valve structure associated with said connection structure to control flow through said connection structure,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, anda compressed air augmentation mode of operation wherein supplemental compressed air from said supplemental compressor structure is supplied through said connection structure and is saturated and pre-heated in said saturator and is further heated in said recuperator and then is 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.