Patent ID: 6978620

Claim:
A variable loading rate method of starting a plurality of gas turbines used in a power plant for generating electricity comprising: starting a first gas turbine and bringing it up to operate at a minimum load condition; maintaining the first gas turbine at its minimum load condition while starting a second gas turbine and bringing it up to operate at its minimum load condition; initiating start-up of a steam turbine to which the gas turbines are operationally coupled while maintaining both gas turbines at their minimum load conditions; increasing the load on both gas turbines to a predetermined level greater than their minimum load levels once operating temperatures within the steam turbine reach predetermined levels; and, subsequently loading both gas turbines as function of the load on the steam turbine to which the gas turbines are coupled, the starting sequence lowering the amount of NO 2 produced during start-up of the turbines and the occurrence of a visible yellow plume at the power plant.