Patent ID: 6837702

Claim:
A method of operating a power plant which includes an internal combustion engine, a burner and a boiler space, comprising the steps of: routing a first portion of exhaust from the internal combustion engine to the burner; adding fuel to said first portion in order to form a first mixture; adding air to said fuel and said first portion of engine exhaust in order to form said first mixture; preheating said air prior to its being added with said fuel to said engine exhaust in order to form said first mixture; combusting said first mixture in a primary combustion zone, thereby creating a burner exhaust; routine a second portion of said engine exhaust from the internal combustion engine to mix with said burner exhaust, thereby creating a second mixture; combusting said second mixture in a secondary combustion zone creating a secondary burner exhaust; and transferring the heat from said secondary burner exhaust to feedwater and steam in order to create steam.