System and method for waste heat augmentation in a combined cycle plant through combustor gas diversion

• US 20020029558A1
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert F. Tamaro
• Original Assignee: Robert F. Tamaro
• Inventors: Tamaro, Robert F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,748,733 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 60/39.182
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 23/101 Regulating means specially adapted therefor F01K23/105, F01K23/108 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/18 by bleeding, bypassing or acting on variable working fluid interconnections between turbines or compressors or their stages F02C3/113 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/16 Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT]

Abstract

The present invention relates to steam generating systems in a combined cycle plant that is comprised of a gas turbine section that is operatively coupled to a steam cycle section to produce mechanical energy for electrical power generation, or for other purposes. In one embodiment, a gas diversion valve between the gas turbine section and the steam cycle section diverts at least a portion of the hot combustion gases generated by the gas turbine section to the steam cycle section, thereby augmenting the heat available to the steam cycle section. In another embodiment, steam produced within the steam cycle section is communicated to at least one of the turbines in the gas turbine section to augment the power output of the plant. In yet another embodiment, the steam cycle section may be selectively altered to allow the plant to accommodate the various tasks associated with sugar cane processing.

Claims

1. A combined cycle plant, comprising:

a gas turbine section including at least one compressor to generate a compressed air flow, a combustor that is structured to receive a fuel material and the compressed air flow to support combustion of the fuel material therein and to generate a combustion gas flow, at least one turbine to receive the combustion gas flow and expand the gas flow to recover mechanical energy from the gas flow, the at least one turbine generating an exhaust gas flow;

a gas diverter system to selectively and controllably divert at least a portion of the combustion gas flow and combine the at least a portion of the combustion gas flow with the exhaust gas flow to define an inlet flow; and

a steam cycle section including a heat recovery steam generator structured to receive the inlet gas flow, and a feed water flow and generate a steam flow from the inlet gas flow and the feed water flow, at least one turbine to receive the steam flow and expand the steam flow to recover mechanical energy from the steam flow, the at least one turbine generating an exhaust steam flow, a condenser to receive the exhaust steam flow and generate the feed water flow.