Patent ID: 8863492

Claim:
A method of increasing an efficiency of operation of a combined cycle power plant, the method comprising: providing a gas turbine engine providing a first power output and producing a turbine exhaust gas flow; removing heat from the turbine exhaust gas flow in a first heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to form a reduced temperature exhaust gas and to produce a high pressure steam flow; expanding the high pressure steam flow in a high pressure steam turbine to produce a second power output; compressing the reduced temperature exhaust gas to add energy and form a reheated exhaust gas; removing heat from the reheated exhaust gas in a second heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) to produce a low pressure steam flow, wherein the turbine exhaust gas flow passes through the second HRSG to remove heat subsequent to removing heat from the turbine exhaust gas flow in the first HRSG and prior to compression of the exhaust gas; and expanding the low pressure steam flow in a low pressure steam turbine to increase the second power output.