Patent ID: 8341964

Claim:
A power generation system comprising: a first compressor configured to compress air to a first pressure via a first rotational power; a second compressor configured to compress air to a second pressure via a second rotational power, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure; a combustor configured to receive the compressed air from the second compressor and combust a flammable fluid therewith to produce an exhaust stream; a first turbine configured to: receive the exhaust stream from the combustor; generate the second rotational power from the exhaust stream; output the second rotational power to the second compressor; and output the exhaust stream; a power turbine configured to: receive the exhaust stream from the first turbine; and generate a third rotational power therefrom; a coupling device configured to couple the first compressor to a second turbine and to decouple the first compressor from the second turbine; an electrical generator coupled to an output of the power turbine and configured to output a first electrical power from the third rotational power; and a controller configured to: cause the coupling device to mechanically decouple the second turbine from the first compressor in a first operating mode; and cause a valve on an air cavern outlet line to open to direct compressed air from an air storage cavern to an inlet of the second compressor during the first operating mode.