Abstract: A gas turbine driven powerplant in which a mixture of steam and a combustible hydrocarbon, such as methane, is reformed or partially oxidized to produce a hydrogen-rich fuel which is used to fuel both the primary combustor and a reheat combustor positioned upstream of the final turbine stage, such as the power turbine. Reheat combustion is effected by injecting the hydrogen-rich fuel into the gas flow path between turbine stages where the fuel auto ignites with complete combustion occurring at a nominal distance after injection into the air stream. Further, the hydrogen-rich fuel can be used as a coolant for the turbine stages to allow higher reheat temperatures to be achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting condensable materials from exhaust gases which are produced by combustion. In a steam injected gas turbine driven powerplant, water is extracted from the exhaust gasses and returned to the cycle for steam raising and injection into the combustor. Exhaust gases pass flow co-currently with a cold water fog, water vapor in the fog condenses on the fog drops, the flow passes through a de-mister coalescing the drops so as to produce a warm rain of condensate, the condensate is cooled with a heat exchanger using a cooling medium such as seawater, and the cooled condensate is returned to the cycle.

Abstract: A steam raising apparatus for a gas turbine driven powerplant in which fuel and water are introduced into a heat exchanger at multiple pressures and steam/fuel mixtures are removed from the heat exchanger at multiple pressures, some of which are above the desired pressure for combustion and some of which are below. The higher pressure flows are reduced in pressure by using them to drive a steam turbine coupled to a steam compressor, and the lower pressure flows are increased in pressure by means of the compressor. The resultant flows are then be combined into a single flow at the required pressure and routed to the combustor. Alternatively, multiple steam jet ejectors forming a thermocompressor assembly are used instead of the steam turbine/steam compressor assembly.

Abstract: An intercooled gas turbine driven powerplant employing a high pressure two-pass heat exchanger down stream of the final stage of compression is disclosed herein. The flow of hot, highly compressed air is cooled in the first pass of the high pressure heat exchanger by a counter current in-tube flow of either water alone, or preferably, of a cold methane/water mixture. The flow of air, thus cooled, is then available, in the second pass of the high pressure heat exchanger, to accept exhaust heat or the low grade heat, usually rejected, that is found in the heated fluid from the intercooler. The cool air is thus preheated, by the return to the cycle of exhaust heat, intercooler heat, and/or low grade heat from the operation of ancillary equipment prior to its entry into the combustor. Additionally, if a methane/water two phase feed is used to cool the first stage of the heat exchanger, the superheated mixture of steam and methane produced by the heat exchanger provides the ingredients to produce a low NO.sub.

Abstract: A gas turbine driven powerplant in which a mixture of steam and a combustible effluent, such as methane, is reformed or partially oxidized to produce a hydrogen-rich fuel which is used to fuel both the primary combustor and a reheat combustor positioned upstream of the final turbine stage, such as the power turbine. Reheat combustion is effected by injecting the hydrogen-rich fuel through the cooling orifices of the first turbine upstream of the final turbine stage and into the gas turbine flow path from the trailing edge of the stationary vanes and/or rotating blades, where the fuel auto ignites with complete combustion occurring at a nominal distance after injection into the air stream. Further, the hydrogen-rich fuel can be used as a coolant for the final turbine stage to allow higher reheat temperatures to be achieved.

Abstract: A gas turbine driven powerplant having one or more compressors for producing a down stream air flow, a heat exchanger positioned down stream of the compressors followed by a side stream flow coolant line, a regenerator positioned down stream of the heat exchanger and side stream coolant line, a combustor positioned down stream of the regenerator, one or more turbines positioned down stream of the combustor and mechanically coupled to the compressors, and a power turbine positioned down stream of the turbines. Combustible effluent flows through the heat exchanger and to the combustor, and air discharged from the compressors flows through the heat exchanger and to the coolant line and regenerator. Heat is transferred from the compressor discharge air to the combustible effluent, thereby producing cooling air and heating the combustible effluent. The heat exchanger can be a heat exchanger or a methane/steam reformer which produces a hydrogen-rich, low NO.sub.x, steam diluted combustible effluent.

Abstract: An intercooled gas turbine driven powerplant employing a high pressure two-pass heat exchanger down stream of the final stage of compression is disclosed herein. The flow of hot, highly compressed air is cooled in the first pass of the high pressure heat exchanger by a counter current in-tube flow of either water alone, or preferably, of a cold methane/water mixture. The flow of air, thus cooled, is then available, in the second pass of the high pressure heat exchanger, to accept exhaust heat or the low grade heat, usually rejected, that is found in the heated fluid from the intercooler. The cool air is thus preheated, by the return to the cycle of exhaust heat, intercooler heat, and/or low grade heat from the operation of ancillary equipment prior to its entry into the combustor. Additionally, if a methane/water two phase feed is used to cool the first stage of the heat exchanger, the superheated mixture of steam and methane produced by the heat exchanger provides the ingredients to produce a low NO.sub.

Abstract: A gas turbine driven powerplant having one or more compressors for producing a down stream air flow, a heat exchanger positioned down stream of the compressors followed by a side stream flow coolant line, a regenerator positioned down stream of the heat exchanger and side stream coolant line, a combustor positioned down stream of the regenerator, one or more turbines positioned down stream of the combustor and mechanically coupled to the compressors, and a power turbine positioned down stream of the turbines. Combustible effluent flows through the heat exchanger and to the combustor, and air discharged from the compressors flows through the heat exchanger and to the coolant line and regenerator. Heat is transferred from the compressor discharge air to the combustible effluent, thereby producing cooling air and heating the combustible effluent. The heat exchanger can be a heat exchanger or a methane/steam reformer which produces a hydrogen-rich, low NO.sub.x, steam diluted combustible effluent.