Patent ID: 6871502

Claim:
An integrated power generation and air separation system comprising: (a) a power generation system comprising at least one oxygen-fired combustor designed for gas turbine operating pressures; at least one main heat exchanger which generates steam; one or more steam turbine(s), including at least one high-pressure steam turbine, for generating power; means for sending oxygen and fuel to the combustor(s); means for sending combustion gases from the combustor(s) to the main heat exchanger(s); means for sending steam generated by the main heat exchanger(s) to the turbine(s); and means for sending steam discharged from at least one steam turbine to the combustor(s); (b) an air separation system comprising at least one air separation unit which comprises at least one device for separating air into oxygen-enriched and nitrogen-enriched streams, at least one nitrogen gas compressor, at least one heater for compressed nitrogen gas, at least one nitrogen gas turbine for generating power; means for sending nitrogen to the nitrogen gas compressor(s); means for sending compressed nitrogen from the compressor(s) to the heater(s); means for sending nitrogen gas from the heater(s) to the nitrogen gas turbine(s); (c) a combustion gas power system comprising at least one intermediate-pressure turbine for generating power from the heated combustion gases; means for sending combustion gases from the main heat exchanger(s) to said turbine(s), means for extracting combustion gases from at least one turbine; (d) a feedwater regeneration system comprising at least one feedwater heater for the main heat exchanger(s) and at least one feedwater heater capable of receiving combustion gases extracted from the turbine(s) and of removing non-condensable gases from the turbine(s); and means for sending steam from the high-pressure steam turbine(s) to the feedwater heater(s) to provide feedwater heating.