Method and apparatus for achieving power augmentation in gas turbines via wet compression

• US 5,930,990 A
• Filed: 05/14/1996
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company (Dow, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zachary, Richard E., Hudson, Roger D.
• Primary Examiner(s): FREAY, CHARLES GRANT
• Application Number:
  US08/645,781
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 60/39.05, 60/39.091, 60/39.093, 60/39.3, 60/39.53
• US Class Current: 60/39.53
• CPC Class Codes: F01K 21/047 having at least one combustion gas turbine
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 3/305 Increasing the power, speed, torque or efficiency of a gas turbine or the thrust of a turbojet engine by injecting or adding water, steam or other fluids F01K21/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/05 having provisions for obviating the penetration of damaging objects or particles
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/1435 by water injection
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/32 in gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2250/51 Inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/212 by water injection
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/607 Preventing clogging or obstruction of flow paths by dirt, dust, or foreign particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/16 Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A wet compression power augmentation apparatus and method for effectively adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine by use of a spray rack group assembly having at least one spray rack water pipe and at least one spray rack water nozzle. Nebulized water mass flow is added in increments such that operationally-induced thermal stresses within the gas turbine are sufficiently minimized to preserve the structural integrity of the gas turbine. Monitoring of the temperature profile of fluid-cooled rotor blades in the turbine section with an optical pyrometer to detect clogging of cooling pathways in those rotor blades from impurities in the liquid added through the wet compression, monitoring of temperature in the gas turbine compressor inlet to guard against the possibility of icing, and use of a laser emitter and laser target measuring system mounted to the exterior of the gas turbine hosing to detect deformation in the housing of the gas turbine from associated cooling effects help enable safe use of the wet compression technique. Addition of steam in the compressor inlet to control the inlet air temperature and to thereby prevent ice-forming conditions in the compressor inlet and elsewhere extends the benefits of the wet compression technique to operation in cooler climates.

Claims

1. A wet compression power augmentation apparatus for adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing and a compressor and said compressor having a compressor inlet, comprising:

means for nebulizing water positioned essentially in said compressor inlet and which means is adapted to modify the mass flow of nebulized water in a plurality of nebulized water mass flow increments such that operationally-induced thermal stresses within said turbine due to the use of said mass flow of nebulized water are sufficiently minimized to preserve structural integrity in said gas turbine; and

means for providing a sufficient amount of water to said nebulizing water means so that, in continuous operation, an inlet air stream having entrained liquid water particles may be provided to said compressor inlet and the work of compression lessened thereby through latent heat intercooling in the compressor.

2. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for detecting deformation in said housing.

3. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gas turbine further comprises a turbine section having a plurality of fluid cooled rotor blades and said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades.

4. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gas turbine further comprises a temperature measuring means in said compressor inlet.

5. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gas turbine is attached to an inlet duct in fluid communication with said compressor inlet and said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a viewport in said inlet duct positioned near said compressor inlet so that icing can be monitored.

6. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for adding steam in said compressor inlet.

7. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said means for detecting deformation in said housing comprises a laser emitter and laser target measuring system mounted to the exterior of said housing.

8. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades comprises an optical pyrometer for monitoring the emitted energy of each of said cooled rotor blades through a sighting tube.

9. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said means to monitor icing comprises a video camera positioned and focused to scan for ice buildup through said viewport.

10. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 1 comprising at least one nozzle having a throughput which corresponds to one said nebulized water mass flow increment in the plurality of nebulized water mass flow increments.

11. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said means for nebulizing water comprises a restricting orifice associated with said at least one nozzle.

12. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 6 wherein, in operation, sufficient steam is added to maintain a temperature in said inlet air stream so that icing in said compressor does not substantially occur.

13. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 2 and 7 wherein said means for detecting deformation in said housing further comprises a process control computer connected to said means for modifying the mass flow of nebulized water, for controlling said mass flow of nebulized water so that deformation in said housing is minimized.

14. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein, in operation, said means for providing water to said nebulizing water means also provides a material which depresses the freezing point of said water particles.

15. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said compressor is an axial compressor.

80. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, 39 to 50 and 72 to 78 wherein said compressor has a compressor outlet and said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for measuring the presence of liquid, said means for measuring the presence of liquid being positioned in said compressor outlet.

16. A wet compression power augmentation apparatus for adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing and an axial compressor, said axial compressor having a rotor, said rotor having an axis of rotation and an axial compressor inlet, said gas turbine further having an inlet air duct attached to said housing and in fluid communication with said axial compressor inlet for providing an inlet air stream to said axial compressor, said inlet air duct having a lower surface and an inlet air duct constricted portion whose axis is essentially perpendicular to said axis of rotation, comprising:

means for nebulizing water positioned essentially in said inlet air duct constricted portion and which means is adapted to modify the mass flow of nebulized water in a plurality of nebulized water mass flow increments such that operationally-induced thermal stresses within said gas turbine due to the use of said mass flow of nebulized water are sufficiently minimized to preserve structural intergrity in said gas turbine; and

means for providing a sufficient amount of water to said nebulizing water means so that, in continuous operation, an inlet air stream having entrained liquid water particles is provided to said compressor inlet and the work of compression lessened thereby through latent heat intercooling in the compressor.

17. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 16 comprising at least one nozzle having a throughput which corresponds to one said nebulized water mass flow increment in the plurality of nebulized water mass flow increments.

18. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for detecting deformation in said housing.

19. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said means for nebulizing water is positioned essentially in said inlet air duct constricted portion with a sufficient separation from said axial compressor inlet such that, in operation, any said nozzle which breaks away from said means for nebulizing water will be gravitationally pulled to said lower surface of said inlet air duct before said nozzle is pulled into said axial compressor rotor by forces derived from pressure and flow attributes within said inlet air duct.

20. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said gas turbine further comprises a turbine section having a plurality of fluid cooled rotor blades and said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades.

21. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said gas turbine further comprises a temperature measuring means in said axial compressor inlet.

22. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said gas turbine is attached to an inlet duct in fluid communication with said compressor inlet and said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a viewport in said inlet duct positioned near said compressor inlet so that icing can be monitored.

23. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for adding steam in said inlet air duct constricted portion.

24. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said means for detecting deformation in said housing comprises a laser emitter and laser target measuring system mounted to the exterior of said housing.

25. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 20 wherein said means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades comprises an optical pyrometer for monitoring the emitted energy of each of said cooled rotor blades through a sighting tube.

26. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 22 wherein said means to monitor icing comprises a video camera positioned and focused to scan for ice buildup through said viewport.

27. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 17 wherein said means for nebulizing water comprises a restricting orifice associated with said at least one nozzle.

28. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 18 and 24 wherein said means for detecting deformation in said housing further comprises a process control computer connected to said means for modifying the mass flow of nebulized water so that said process control computer can execute process control logic to control said mass flow of nebulized water so that deformation in said housing is minimized.

29. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 16 to 27 wherein, in operation, said means for providing water to said nebulizing water means also provides a material which depresses the freezing point of said water particles.

30. A wet compression power augmentation method for adding nebulized water to a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing and a compressor, said compressor having a compressor inlet, comprising:

nebulizing water in said compressor inlet; and

adding water to modify said nebulized water in a plurality of nebulized water mass flow increments such that operationally-induced thermal stresses within said gas turbine due to the ingestion and evaporation in whole or in part of said

nebulized water are sufficiently minimized to preserve structural integrity in said gas turbine.

31. The wet compression power augmentation method according to claim 30 wherein said wet compression power augmentation method further comprises detecting deformation in said housing.

32. The wet compression power augmentation method according to claim 30 wherein said gas turbine further comprises a turbine section having a plurality of fluid cooled rotor blades and said wet compression power augmentation method further comprises monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades.

33. The wet compression power augmentation method according to claim 30 further comprising measuring the temperature in said compressor inlet.

34. The wet compression power augmentation method according to claim 30 further comprising monitoring for icing in said compressor inlet.

35. The wet compression power augmentation method according to claim 30 further comprising adding steam in said compressor inlet.

36. The wet compression power augmentation method according to claim 35 wherein sufficient steam is added to maintain a temperature in said inlet air stream so that icing in said compressor inlet does not substantially occur.

37. The wet compression power augmentation method according to any one of claims 30 to 36 further comprising adding a material which depresses the freezing point of said nebulized water.

38. The wet compression power augmentation method of claim 31 further comprising adjusting the plurality of water mass flow increments to minimize said deformation in said housing.

71. The wet compression power augmentation method according to any one of claims 30 to 36 wherein said compressor has a compressor outlet and said wet compression power augmentation method further comprises measuring the presence of liquid in said compressor outlet.

39. A wet compression power augmentation apparatus for adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing and a compressor and said compressor having a compressor inlet, comprising:

means for nebulizing water positioned essentially in said compressor inlet;

means for detecting deformation in said housing; and

means for providing a sufficient amount of water to said nebulizing water means so that, in continuous operation, an inlet air stream having entrained liquid water particles may be provided to said compressor inlet and the work of compression lessened thereby through latent heat intercooling in the compressor.

40. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said means for nebulizing water is adapted to modify the mass flow of nebulized water in a plurality of nebulized water mass flow increments such that operationally-induced thermal stresses within said gas turbine due to the use of said mass flow of nebulized water are sufficiently minimized to preserve structural integrity in said gas turbine.

41. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said gas turbine further comprises a turbine section having a plurality of fluid cooled rotor blades and said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades.

42. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said gas turbine further comprises a temperature measuring means in said compressor inlet.

43. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said gas turbine is attached to an inlet duct in fluid communication with said compressor inlet and said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a viewport in said inlet duct positioned near said compressor inlet so that icing can be monitored.

44. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for adding steam in said compressor inlet.

45. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 39 wherein said means for detecting deformation in said housing comprises a laser emitter and laser target measuring system mounted to the exterior of said housing.

46. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 41 wherein said means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades comprises an optical pyrometer for monitoring the emitted energy of each of said cooled rotor blades through a sighting tube.

47. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 43 wherein said means to monitor icing comprises a video camera positioned and focused to scan for ice buildup through said viewport.

48. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 40 comprising at least one nozzle having a throughput which corresponds to one said nebulized water mass flow increment in the plurality of nebulized water mass flow increments.

49. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 48 wherein said means for nebulizing water comprises a restricting orifice associated with said at least one nozzle.

50. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 44 wherein, in operation, sufficient steam is added to maintain a temperature in said inlet air stream so that icing in said compressor inlet does not substantially occur.

51. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 39 and 45 wherein said means for detecting deformation in said housing further comprises a process control computer connected to said means for providing water, for controlling said mass flow of nebulized water so that deformation in said housing is minimized.

52. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 39 to 50 wherein, in operation, said means for providing water to said nebulizing water means also provides a material which depresses the freezing point of said water particles.

53. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 39 to 50 wherein said compressor is an axial compressor.

54. A wet compression power augmentation apparatus for adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine constructed of alloyed metal components containing alloying elements, said gas turbine having a housing and a compressor and said compressor having a compressor inlet, comprising:

means for nebulizing water positioned essentially in said compressor inlet; and

means for providing water to said nebulizing water means wherein said means for providing water provides water having a compositional balance of chemical elements respective to said alloyed metal components so that, in continuous operation, an inlet air stream having entrained water particles is provided to said compressor inlet, said compositional balance sufficiently minimizing leaching of alloying elements from said alloyed metal components so that the integrity of said alloyed metal components is properly preserved.

55. A wet compression power augmentation apparatus for adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing and a compressor and said compressor having a compressor inlet, comprising:

an inlet air duct attached to said compressor in fluid communication with said compressor inlet, said inlet air duct having a lower surface;

means for nebulizing water positioned in said inlet air duct with sufficient separation from said axial compressor inlet such that, in operation, any portion of said means for nebulizing water which breaks away from said means for nebulizing water will be gravitationally pulled to said lower surface before said portion is conveyed into said compressor by forces derived from pressure and flow attributes within said inlet air duct; and

means for providing a sufficient amount of water to said nebulizing water means so that, in continuous operation, an inlet air stream having entrained liquid water particles may be provided to said compressor inlet and the work of compression lessened thereby through latent heat intercooling in the compressor.

56. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 55 wherein said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for detecting deformation in said housing.

57. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 55 wherein said gas turbine further comprises a turbine section having a plurality of fluid cooled rotor blades and said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades.

58. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 55 wherein said gas turbine further comprises a temperature measuring means in said compressor inlet.

59. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 55 further comprising a viewport in said inlet duct positioned near said compressor inlet so that icing can be monitored.

60. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 55 wherein said wet compression power augmentation apparatus further comprises a means for adding steam in said compressor inlet.

61. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 56 wherein said means for detecting deformation in said housing comprises a laser emitter and laser target measuring system mounted to the exterior of said housing.

62. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 57 wherein said means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades comprises an optical pyrometer for monitoring the emitted energy of each of said cooled rotor blades through a sighting tube.

63. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 59 wherein said means to monitor icing comprises a video camera positioned and focused to scan for ice buildup through said viewport.

64. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 55 comprising at least one nozzle for providing a nebulized water mass flow increment.

65. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 64 comprising a plurality of said nozzles for providing a corresponding plurality of nebulized water mass flow increment.

66. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 65 wherein said means for nebulizing water comprises a restricting orifice associated with said at least one nozzle.

67. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 60 wherein, in operation, sufficient steam is added to maintain a temperature in said inlet air stream so that icing in said compressor does not substantially occur.

68. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 56 and 61, further comprising a means for modifying the mass flow of nebulized water provided to the compressor inlet and wherein said means for detecting deformation in said housing further comprises a process control computer connected to said means for modifying the mass flow of nebulized water, for controlling said mass flow of nebulized water so that deformation in said housing is minimized.

69. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 55 to 67 wherein, in operation, said means for providing water to said nebulizing water means also provides a material which depresses the freezing point of said water particles.

70. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 55 to 67 wherein said compressor is an axial compressor.

72. A wet compression power augmentation apparatus for adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing, a turbine section having a plurality of fluid cooled rotor blades, and a compressor, and said compressor having a compressor inlet, comprising:

means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades;

means for nebulizing water positioned essentially in said compressor inlet;

means for providing a sufficient amount of water to said nebulizing water means so that, in continuous operation, an inlet air stream having entrained liquid water particles may be provided to said compressor inlet and the work of compression lessened thereby through latent heat intercooling in the compressor; and

means for detecting deformation in said housing associated with the ingestion of said entrained liquid water particles into the compressor.

73. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 72, wherein said means for detecting deformation in said housing comprises a laser emitter and laser target measuring system mounted to the exterior of said housing.

81. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 73 and 74 wherein said means for detecting deformation in said housing further comprises a process control computer connected to said means for adjusting the mass flow of nebulized water, for controlling said mass flow of nebulized water so that deformation in said housing is minimized.

82. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 73 to 80 wherein, in operation, said means for providing water to said nebulizing water means also provides a material which depresses the freezing point of said water particles.

83. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to any one of claims 73 to 80 wherein said compressor is an axial compressor.

74. A wet compression power augmentation apparatus for adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing, a turbine section having a plurality of fluid cooled rotor blades and a compressor having a compressor inlet, with the gas turbine being attached to an inlet duct which is in fluid communication with the compressor inlet, said power augmentation apparatus comprising:

means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades;

means for nebulizing water positioned essentially in said compressor inlet;

means for providing a sufficient amount of water to said nebulizing water means so that, in continuous operation, an inlet air stream having entrained liquid water particles may be provided to said compressor inlet and the work of compression lessened thereby through latent heat intercooling in the compressor; and

a viewport in said inlet duct positioned near said compressor inlet so that icing from the addition of the nebulized water can be monitored.

75. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 74, further comprising a video camera positioned and focused to scan for ice buildup through said viewport.

76. A wet compression power augmentation apparatus for adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing, a turbine section having a plurality of fluid cooled rotor blades, and a compressor, and said compressor having a compressor inlet, comprising:

means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades;

means for nebulizing water positioned essentially in said compressor inlet;

means for providing a sufficient amount of water to said nebulizing water means so that, in continuous operation, an inlet air stream having entrained liquid water particles may be provided to said compressor inlet and the work of compression lessened thereby through latent heat intercooling in the compressor; and

means for adding steam in said compressor inlet.

77. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 76 wherein, in operation, sufficient steam is added through said steam addition means to maintain a temperature in said inlet air stream, so that icing in said compressor inlet does not substantially occur.

78. A wet compression power augmentation apparatus for adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing, a turbine section having a plurality of fluid cooled rotor blades, and a compressor, and said compressor having a compressor inlet, comprising:

means for monitoring the temperature profile of each of said fluid cooled rotor blades;

means for nebulizing water positioned essentially in said compressor inlet, with said means being suited for delivering a mass flow of nebulized water to the compressor inlet in a plurality of nebulized water mass flow increments so that operationally-induced thermal stresses within said gas turbine due to the use of said mass flow of nebulized water are sufficiently minimized to preserve the structural integrity of the gas turbine, and wherein at least one increment of the plurality of nebulized water mass flow increments is provided by means of a nozzle whose throughput corresponds to the increment; and

means for providing a sufficient amount of water to said nebulizing water means so that, in continuous operation, an inlet air stream having entrained liquid water particles may be provided to said compressor inlet and the work of compression lessened thereby through latent heat intercooling in the compressor.

79. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 78, wherein a restricting orifice is associated with the nozzle.

84. A wet compression power augmentation apparatus for adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing and a compressor and said compressor having a compressor inlet, comprising:

means for providing nebulized water to said compressor inlet in the form of a plurality of nebulized water mass flow increments;

means for providing a sufficient amount of water to said nebulizing water means so that an inlet air stream having entrained liquid water particles may be provided to the compressor inlet in the operation of the turbine and the work of compression lessened thereby through latent heat intercooling in the compressor; and

means for detecting deformation in the turbine'"'"'s housing.

85. The wet compression power augmentation apparatus according to claim 84, wherein said means for detecting deformation in said housing further comprises a process control computer connected to said means for modifying the mass flow of nebulized water, for controlling said mass flow of nebulized water so that deformation in said housing is minimized.

86. A wet compression power augmentation apparatus for adding a mass flow of nebulized water to a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing and a compressor and said compressor having a compressor inlet, comprising:

means for providing nebulized water to said compressor inlet in the form of a plurality of nebulized water mass flow increments;

means for providing a sufficient amount of water to said nebulizing water means so that an inlet air stream having entrained liquid water particles may be provided to the compressor inlet in the operation of the turbine and the work of compression lessened thereby through latent heat intercooling in the compressor; and

means for adding steam in the compressor inlet.

87. A wet compression power augmentation method for achieving an increase in power production from a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing and a compressor with a compressor inlet, comprising:

providing an amount of nebulized water to said compressor inlet so that at least a portion of this water is ingested by and evaporated in the compressor, and thereby provides a degree of latent heat intercooling to said compressor;

incrementally modifying the mass flow of nebulized water provided to said compressor inlet; and

detecting deformation in said housing as the mass flow is so modified.

88. A wet compression power augmentation method for achieving an increase in power production from a gas turbine, said gas turbine having a housing and a compressor with a compressor inlet, comprising:

providing an amount of nebulized water to said compressor inlet so that at least a portion of this water is ingested by and evaporated in the compressor, and thereby provides a degree of latent heat intercooling to said compressor;

incrementally modifying the mass flow of nebulized water provided to said compressor inlet; and

adding steam in said compressor inlet to keep ice from forming in the compressor inlet.