Combined Cycle System with a Water Turbine

Abstract

The present application and the resultant patent provide a combined cycle system with a flow of feed water therein. The combined cycle system may include a gas turbine, a steam turbine, a heat exchanger with the flow of feed water flowing therethrough, an expansion source for expanding the flow of feed water, and a supplemental power generation system positioned between the heat exchanger and the expansion source and driven by the flow of feed water.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A combined cycle system with a flow of feed water therein, comprising:
 a gas turbine;   a steam turbine;   a heat exchanger with the flow of feed water flowing therethrough;   an expansion source for expanding the flow of feed water; and   a supplemental power generation system positioned between the heat exchanger and the expansion source and driven by the flow of feed water.   
     
     
         2 . The combined cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a low pressure economizer. 
     
     
         3 . The combined cycle system of  claim 2 , wherein the expansion source comprises a low pressure drum. 
     
     
         4 . The combined cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises an intermediate pressure economizer. 
     
     
         5 . The combined cycle system of  claim 4 , wherein the expansion source comprises an intermediate pressure drum. 
     
     
         6 . The combined cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a performance heater. 
     
     
         7 . The combined cycle system of  claim 6 , wherein the expansion source comprises a condenser. 
     
     
         8 . The combined cycle system of  claim 6 , wherein the expansion source comprises a condensate pump. 
     
     
         9 . The combined cycle system of  claim 1 , wherein the supplemental power generation system comprises a water turbine. 
     
     
         10 . The combined cycle system of  claim 9 , wherein the water turbine comprises an inlet reducer. 
     
     
         11 . The combined cycle system of  claim 9 , wherein the water turbine drives a load. 
     
     
         12 . The combined cycle system of  claim 11 , wherein the load comprises an induction generator. 
     
     
         13 . The combined cycle system of  claim 9 , wherein the load comprises a mechanical device. 
     
     
         14 . A heat recovery steam generator with a flow of feed water therein, comprising:
 an economizer;   a drum; and   a water turbine positioned between the economizer and the drum.   
     
     
         15 . The heat recovery steam generator of  claim 14 , wherein the economizer comprises a low pressure economizer and the drum comprises a low pressure drum. 
     
     
         16 . The heat recovery steam generator of  claim 14 , wherein the economizer comprises an intermediate pressure economizer and the drum comprises an intermediate pressure drum. 
     
     
         17 . The heat recovery steam generator of  claim 14 , wherein the water turbine comprises an inlet reducer. 
     
     
         18 . The heat recovery steam generator of  claim 14 , wherein the water turbine comprises an induction generator. 
     
     
         19 . The heat recovery steam generator of  claim 14 , wherein the water turbine comprises a mechanical device. 
     
     
         20 . A combined cycle system with a flow of feed water therein, comprising:
 a gas turbine;   a performance heater with the flow of feed water flowing therethrough;   a steam turbine;   the steam turbine comprising a condenser; and   a water turbine positioned downstream of the performance heater and driven by the flow of feed water.