Gas turbine heat recovery steam generator and method of operation

• US 6,055,803 A
• Filed: 12/08/1997
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: Combustion Engineering Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Mastronarde, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Ted
• Application Number:
  US08/986,675
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 60/39.02, 60/39.182, 60/39.5, 122/1 R, 122/1 B, 122/7 R, 122/7 B
• US Class Current: 60/783
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/1815 using the exhaust gases of gas-turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• 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

A heat recovery generator has a housing defining a horizontally oriented exhaust gas stream. The exhaust gas stream passes through a first heat recovery unit having horizontally oriented heat transfer tubes and forced circulation of a heat transfer fluid therethrough. The exhaust gas stream then is passed through an air pollution control assembly having a catalyst for reduction of exhaust emissions. The exhaust gas stream is subsequently passed through a second heat recovery steam generator having vertically oriented heat transfer tubes and natural circulation therethrough.

Claims

1. A heat recovery steam generator for use with the exhaust of a gas turbine comprising:

a housing for receiving the exhaust of a gas turbine defining a generally horizontal exhaust flow path therethrough having an upstream direction and a downstream direction;

a first heat recovery assembly in said housing and oriented across said exhaust flow path having generally horizontally oriented first heat transfer tubes and forced once-through circulation of a heat transfer fluid;

an air pollution control assembly in said housing, oriented across said exhaust flow path and in the downstream direction from said first heat recovery unit, said air pollution control assembly comprising a catalyst for the reduction of exhaust emissions;

a second heat recovery assembly in said housing, oriented across said exhaust flow path and in the downstream direction from said air pollution control assembly, having generally vertically oriented second heat transfer tubes for natural circulation of a heat transfer fluid.

2. The heat recovery steam generator of claim 1 wherein said second heat recovery assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart tube sections each having a plurality of said second heat transfer tubes, said tube sections defining vertically oriented cavities therebetween.

3. The heat recovery steam generator of claim 1 further comprising a third heat recovery assembly in said housing, across said exhaust gas flow path, downstream from said second heat recovery assembly, and comprising an economizer with vertically oriented heat transfer tubes.

4. The heat recovery steam generator of claim 3 wherein said second heat recovery assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart tube sections each having a plurality of said second heat transfer tubes, said tube sections defining vertically oriented cavities therebetween.

5. The heat recovery steam generator of claim 1 wherein said second heat recovery assembly further comprises a drum for separation of steam and water.

6. A method of operating a gas turbine combined cycle system wherein the gas turbine combined cycle system comprises a gas turbine and a heat recovery steam generator having a first heat transfer assembly, a second heat transfer assembly, and an air pollution control assembly having a catalyst, the method comprising the steps of:

generating an exhaust gas stream from said gas turbine;

circulating by force a heat transfer fluid generally horizontally through said first heat transfer assembly;

circulating by natural means a heat transfer fluid generally vertically through said second heat transfer assembly;

performing a first cooling of said exhaust stream by passing said exhaust stream through said first heat transfer assembly;

after said first cooling reducing said exhaust emissions by passing said cooled exhaust stream through said air pollution control assembly; and

performing a second cooling of said exhaust stream after said exhaust emissions reduction by passing said exhaust stream through said second heat transfer assembly.

7. A combined cycle system comprising:

a gas turbine for generating an exhaust gas stream; and

a heat recovery steam generator for recovery heat from the exhaust gas stream comprising a housing for receiving the exhaust gas stream and defining a generally horizontal exhaust flow path from said gas turbine therethrough, said exhaust gas flow path having an upstream direction and a downstream direction, a first heat recovery assembly in said housing and oriented across said exhaust flow path having generally horizontally oriented first heat transfer tubes and forced once-through circulation of a heat transfer fluid, an air pollution control assembly in said housing, oriented across said exhaust flow path and in the downstream direction from said first heat recovery unit, said air pollution control assembly comprising a catalyst for the reduction of exhaust emissions, and a second heat recovery assembly in said housing, oriented across said exhaust flow path and in the downstream direction from said air pollution control assembly and having generally vertically oriented second heat transfer tubes for natural circulation of a heat transfer fluid.

8. The combined cycle system of claim 7 wherein said second heat recovery assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart tube sections each having a plurality of said second heat transfer tubes, said tube sections defining vertically oriented cavities therebetween.

9. The combined cycle system of claim 7 further comprising a third heat recovery assembly in said housing, across said exhaust gas flow path, downstream from said second heat recovery assembly, and comprising an economizer with vertically oriented heat transfer tubes.

10. The combined cycle system of claim 9 wherein said second heat recovery assembly comprises a plurality of spaced apart tube sections each having a plurality of said second heat transfer tubes, said tube sections defining vertically oriented cavities therebetween.

11. The combined cycle system of claim 7 wherein said second heat recovery assembly further comprises a drum for separation of steam and water.