Patent ID: 7107774

Claim:
In a combined cycle power plant apparatus adapted for starting up or changing the load of the plant, said apparatus comprising in combination a plurality of combustion turbines, each having at least a turbine exhaust, and systems for recovering heat, each such system having an inlet coupled to an exhaust from a combustion turbine, the improvements comprising: (a) an assembly for isolating said combustion turbines from said systems for recovering heat; (b) an auxiliary engine or other hot gas generator; (c) an auxiliary engine stack conveying exhaust from said auxiliary engine or other hot gas generator to the atmosphere; (d) an assembly for isolating said auxiliary engine or other hot gas generator from said auxiliary engine stack; (e) at least a startup duct system coupling exhaust from said auxiliary engine or other hot gas generator to inlets of each of said systems for recovering heat; (f) a first damper assembly for periodically isolating said startup duct system from each of said systems for recovering heat; and, (g) a second damper assembly for periodically isolating said startup duct system from said auxiliary engine or other hot gas generator.