Combined cycle power plant with reserves capability

Abstract

A combined cycle (CC) power plant comprises a gas turbine; a steam turbine; a condenser; a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), the HRSG comprising an attemperator and a high pressure superheater and attemperator, the high pressure superheater and attemperator disposed at a discharge terminal of the high pressure superheater and attemperator and at a discharge terminal of the HRSG reheater; a generator, and a fuel supply. The steam turbine is connected by multiple conduits to the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and the steam turbine exhaust is connected to the condenser wherein support multiple ancillary and reserves to load follow, execute regulation, and meet intermediate power generation service needs in an expedited start process.

1 . A combined cycle (CC) power plant comprising:
 a gas turbine;   a steam turbine;   a condenser;   a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), the HRSG comprising an attemperator and a high pressure superheater and attemperator, the high pressure superheater and attemperator disposed at a discharge terminal of the high pressure superheater and attemperator and at a discharge terminal of the HRSG reheater;   a generator,   a fuel supply;   wherein the steam turbine is connected by multiple conduits to the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and the steam turbine exhaust is connected to the condenser wherein support multiple ancillary and reserves to load follow, execute regulation, and meet intermediate power generation service needs in an expedited start process.   
     
     
         2 . A combined cycle (CC) power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel supply comprises:
 a piping configuration to supply fuel to the power plant, the fuel supply comprises at least two pressure cavities in fluid communication with each other be a series of valves.   wherein the valves control flow there between and when the valves are operated with each other, permit fuel to flow to the combined cycle power plant, in a controlled manner to allow fast start up of the combined cycle power plant and to permit dilution and removal of combustible gasses has been completed in the combined cycle power plant before a combined cycle power plant start command is provided.   
     
     
         3 . A combined cycle (CC) power plant according to  claim 1 , wherein the supply fuel to the power plant comprises at least one of a heated or non-heated fuel. 
     
     
         4 . A combined cycle (CC) power plant according to  claim 2  wherein the at least two pressure cavities comprise at least one control valve. 
     
     
         5 . A combined cycle (CC) power plant according to  claim 4 . wherein the at least one control valve comprises at least one valve selected from the group comprising:
 rotary values, gate valves, stem valves, butterfly valves, ball valves, choke valves; and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         6 . A combined cycle (CC) power plant according to  claim 2  wherein the at least two pressure cavities comprise at least one vent valve. 
     
     
         7 . A combined cycle (CC) power plant according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one control valve comprises at least one valve selected from the group comprising:
 rotary values, gate valves, stem valves, butterfly valves, ball valves, choke valves; and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         8 . A combined cycle (CC) power plant according to  claim 2  wherein the at least two pressure cavities comprise at least one control valve, wherein the at least one control valve is controlled by at least one of: a solenoid control, manual control, sensor control, and remotely control. 
     
     
         9 . A method of providing and operating a combined cycle (CC) power plant, the combined cycle (CC) power plant comprising a gas turbine; a steam turbine; a condenser; a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), the HRSG comprising an attemperator and a high pressure superheater and attemperator, the high pressure superheater and attemperator disposed at a discharge terminal of the high pressure superheater and attemperator and at a discharge terminal of the HRSG reheater; a generator, a fuel supply; wherein the fuel supply comprises a piping configuration to supply fuel to the power plant, the fuel supply comprises at least two pressure cavities in fluid communication with each other be a series of valves, the series of valves control flow there between and when the series of valves are operated with each other, permit fuel to flow to the combined cycle power plant in a controlled manner to allow fast start up of the combined cycle power plant and to permit dilution and removal of combustible gasses has been completed in the combined cycle power plant before a combined cycle power plant start command is provided; the method comprising:
 controlling the series of valves, opening and closing selected ones of the series of valves to provide a first pressure in one section of the fuel supply and a second pressure in another section of the fuel supply, wherein the first pressure is lower than the second pressure;   conducting a gas leak test in the fuel supply of the combined cycle (CC) power plant;
 if the gas leak test is successful, conducting a purge of the fuel supply of the combined cycle (CC) power plant; and 
 if the purge of the fuel supply of the combined cycle (CC) power plant is successful maintaining the purge and starting the combined cycle (CC) power plant.