Patent ID: 7274111

Claim:
An electric power grid frequency control sub-system for a combined-cycle power system, said control sub-system comprises: at least one steam turbine, said steam turbine comprises at least one pipe, said pipe comprises at least one steam flow control valve; at least one steam source in flow communication with said steam turbine via said pipe, said steam source comprises at least one thermal energy reservoir; at least one combustion turbine, said combustion turbine comprises at least one air inlet guide vane; at least one electric power generator, said generator being electrically coupled to an electric power grid, said generator frequency and the grid frequency being synchronized to an operating frequency of the grid, such that said steam turbine, said combustion turbine, and the grid are operating at a frequency substantially similar to a standardized grid frequency value; a plurality of process feedback mechanisms, said feedback mechanisms comprise a plurality of process measurement sensors; and at least one electronic controller, said at least one electronic controller comprises at least one electronically stored control program, a plurality of electronic input channels, a plurality of electronic output channels, and at least one operator interface device, such that said at least one steam flow control valve and said at least one air inlet guide vane cooperate to continuously facilitate a predetermined rate of a grid frequency recovery for a predetermined period of time, the predetermined rate of frequency recovery is substantially uniform.