Patent ID: 8205456

Claim:
A process for producing electric power comprising the steps of: compressing air from atmospheric pressure high enough to pass through a turbine; passing the compressed air through a first heat exchanger to increase the temperature of the compressed air; passing the compressed air from the first heat exchanger into a first turbine to drive a first electric generator and produce electric power; passing the first turbine outlet air through a second heat exchanger; passing the heated air from the second heat exchanger into a second turbine to drive a second generator and produce electric power; passing the air from the outlet of the second turbine through a second combustor; burning a second fuel in the second combustor to produce a hot gas flow; passing the hot gas flow from the second combustor into the second heat exchanger to heat the air exiting the first turbine and entering the second turbine; passing the hot gas flow from the second heat exchanger into a first combustor; passing the hot gas flow from the first combustor into the first heat exchanger; wherein the first and second combustors and the first and second heat exchangers are connected in series; passing the gas flow exiting the first heat exchanger into a heat recovery steam generator to generate steam; and, passing the steam through a third turbine to drive a third electric generator to generate electric power.