Patent ID: 7900431

Claim:
A process for power generation comprising: providing a steam generator, first, second and third steam turbines, a reheater, a gas turbine and at least one heat exchanger, the process having plural modes of operation, a first mode of operation comprising: supplying feedwater to the steam generator and generating a steam output therefrom; supplying a first stream comprising steam from the steam generator to the first steam turbine to generate power in the first steam turbine; recovering from the first steam turbine a recovered stream comprising steam and supplying at least a part of the recovered stream to the reheater; supplying a second stream comprising steam from the steam generator to the heat exchanger and heating the second stream therein by supplying at least one hot exhaust gas from the gas turbine to the heat exchanger; supplying the heated second stream to the second steam turbine to generate power therein; supplying a third stream comprising steam from the steam generator to the reheater to heat the recovered stream from the first steam turbine; recovering from the reheater a heated recovered stream from the first turbine; and supplying at least part of the heated recovered stream from the first turbine to the third steam turbine to generate power therein; a second mode of operation of the plant comprising: supplying feedwater to the steam generator and generating a steam output therefrom; supplying a first stream comprising steam from the steam generator to the first steam turbine to generate power in the first steam turbine; recovering from the first steam turbine a recovered stream comprising steam and supplying at least a part of the recovered stream to the reheater; supplying a second stream comprising steam from the steam generator to the reheater to heat the recovered stream from the first steam turbine; recovering from the reheater a heated recovered stream from the first turbine; and supplying at least part of the heated recovered stream from the first turbine to the third steam turbine to generate power therein; and a third mode of operation of the plant comprising: supplying feedwater bypassing the steam generator to the heat exchanger and heating the feedwater stream therein by supplying at least one hot exhaust gas from the gas turbine to the heat exchanger; and recovering heated steam from the heat exchanger and supplying at least part of the recovered heated steam stream to the second steam turbine to generate power therein.