Patent ID: 8671659

Claim:
A method of generating energy in a power plant that includes a gas turbine, the method comprising: operating an air separation unit to separate oxygen from air; combusting a fuel stream in a combustor, in the presence of oxygen, so as to generate an exhaust gas comprising carbon dioxide and water; operating a turbine, using the exhaust gas, to generate electricity; condensing water out of the exhaust gas, after the exhaust gas is used to generate the electricity, so as to obtain a high-content carbon dioxide stream that is substantially free of oxygen; directing at least a portion of the carbon dioxide stream to the combustor; generating plasma inside the combustor, using a plasma generator; and maintaining a stable flame in the combustor at a carbon dioxide level of greater than about 70% of oxidizer composition by volume in the presence of plasma, by adjusting the carbon dioxide feed-rate; and the power level of the plasma.