Abstract: A waste water processing system includes an upflow contacting column having a flue gas input for receiving flue gas having a temperature of at least 500 degrees F., a waste water input, and a flue gas output. The waste water input is coupled to a fluid injector, e.g., atomizing nozzles, positioned in the throat of a Venturi portion of the upflow contacting column or in a sidewall of the throat of the Venturi portion of the upflow contacting column. The flue gas in the upflow contacting column has a high velocity, e.g., a gas velocity exceeding 65 fps in the throat of the Venturi portion of the upflow contacting column at a position where the fluid injector is located. Drying additives such as recycled ash, lime, and/or cement may be, and sometimes are, input into the upflow contacting column downstream of the waste water input.

Abstract: A gas turbine combined-cycle power plant can comprise a gas turbine engine, a heat recovery steam generator, a steam turbine, a fuel regasification system and a Rankine Cycle system. The gas turbine engine can comprise a compressor for generating compressed air, a combustor that can receive a fuel and the compressed air to produce combustion gas, and a turbine for receiving the combustion gas and generating exhaust gas. The heat recovery steam generator is configured to generate steam from water utilizing the exhaust gas. The steam turbine is configured to produce power from steam from the heat recovery steam generator. The fuel regasification system is configured to convert the fuel from a liquid to a gas before entering the combustor. The Organic Rankine Cycle system is configured to cool compressed air extracted from the compressor to cool the gas turbine engine, and heat liquid fuel entering the fuel regasification system.

Abstract: A power plant comprises a combustor for combusting first and second constituents to generate a gas stream, a turbine for rotation by the gas stream, a compressor to receive a first portion of the gas stream and provide compressed gas to the combustor, a recompressor configured to receive a second portion of the gas stream and provide compressed gas to the combustor, a generator to be driven by the turbine, and a methane reforming reactor configured to dry reform methane to provide the first constituent. A method of operating a power plant comprises operating a supercritical CO2 power cycle to turn a turbine, driving a generator with the turbine, extracting CO2 byproduct from the power cycle, reacting fuel and CO2 to produce a synthesis gas in a dry reforming of methane reactor, and mixing the synthesis gas with oxygen to execute a combustion process for the power cycle.

Abstract: A power plant is configured to output power to a grid power system and comprises a hydrogen generation system configured to produce hydrogen, a gas turbine combined cycle power plant comprising a gas turbine engine configured to combust hydrogen from the hydrogen generation system to generate a gas stream that can be used to rotate a turbine shaft and a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) configured to generate steam with the gas stream of the gas turbine engine to rotate a steam turbine, a storage system configured to store hydrogen produced by the hydrogen generation system, and a controller configured to operate the hydrogen generation system with electricity from the grid power system when the grid power system has excess energy and balance active and reactive loads on the grid power system using at least one of the hydrogen generation system and the gas turbine combined cycle power plant.

Abstract: A combined-cycle power plant comprises a gas turbine engine for generating exhaust gas, an electric generator driven by the gas turbine engine, a steam generator receiving the exhaust gas to heat water and generate steam, and a duct burner system configured to heat exhaust gas in the steam generator before generating the steam and that comprises a source of hydrogen fuel, a fuel distribution manifold to distribute the hydrogen fuel in a duct of the steam generator, and an igniter to initiate combustion of the hydrogen fuel in the exhaust gas. A method for heating exhaust gas in a steam generator for a combined-cycle power plant comprises directing combustion gas of a gas turbine engine into a duct, introducing hydrogen fuel into the duct, combusting the hydrogen fuel and the combustion gas to generate heated gas, and heating water in the duct with the heated gas to generate steam.

Abstract: A utility-scale energy storage and conversion system can operate two or more inverter groups such that their reactive power commands are proportional to their available reactive power range. The control system can therefore distribute the reactive power commands in proportion to the available Q range, thereby ensuring that all inverters in the utility-scale energy storage and conversion system 100 operate with the same Q “headroom”. In addition, the utility-scale energy storage and conversion system can use an on-load tap changer (LTC) to adjust a terminal voltage associated with a first group of inverters and a second group of inverters. The first group of inverters can be associated with a first rating and the second group of inverters can be associated with a second rating that is greater than the first rating.

Abstract: An emission reduction system for a combined cycle power plant including a gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) can comprise a stationary emission converter in fluid communication with and disposed upstream of the HRSG, and a diversion system operably coupled to an exhaust passage of the gas turbine, the exhaust passage defining an exhaust path for exhaust gas of the gas turbine through the heat recovery steam generator, the diversion system operable to define a primary exhaust path excluding the stationary emission converter and a start-up exhaust path including the stationary emission converter.

Abstract: An apparatus for a gas turbine power plant that uniquely configures emission control equipment such that the plant can extend the emissions compliant operational range, the apparatus including a plurality of oxidation (CO) catalysts arranged in series.

Abstract: A power production facility comprises a power plant that combusts fuel to produce energy for generating electricity and exhaust gas, an emissions capture unit to receive the exhaust gas to remove pollutants, a fuel cell to generate electricity via reaction of constituents and provide byproduct heat to operate the emissions capture unit, and an electrolyzer to generate constituents for the fuel cell from water byproduct received from the fuel cell resulting from the reaction process. A method of generating power with an emissions capture unit comprises providing a hybrid power plant configured to generate hydrogen gas and oxygen gas with an electrolyzer from a water input using an electrical input, generate electricity, heat and the water input with a fuel cell from the hydrogen gas and oxygen gas of the electrolyzer, and capture emissions from exhaust gas with an emissions capture unit using the heat from the fuel cell.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor assembly comprises a torque tube, turbine stage and stiffening mass. The torque tube comprises a shaft extending from a forward location to an aft end, and a shaft fastening flange disposed at the aft end. The turbine stage comprises a disc, a disc adapter extending forward from the disc, and a disc fastening flange extending from the disc adapter and couplable to the shaft fastening flange at an interface. The stiffening mass is positioned proximate the interface to reduce operational stress in the torque tube. A method of reducing operational stress in a rotor assembly comprises de-stacking a rotor stack, separating a first stage rotor disc adapter from a torque tube, attaching a stiffening mass to an inner diameter of one or both of the disc adapter and the torque tube, attaching the disc adapter to the torque tube, and re-stacking the rotor stack.

Abstract: A power plant can comprise a gas turbine productive of an exhaust gas, a steam turbine, a heat recovery steam generator that extracts heat from gas turbine exhaust gas and supplies fluid to the steam turbine, a thermal storage unit storing a thermal storage working medium that is configured to discharge thermal energy into the fluid supplied from the heat recovery steam generator to supplement power generation by the steam turbine, a first heat exchanger disposed within the heat recovery steam generator to transfer thermal energy from the exhaust gas to the thermal storage working medium, and a second heat exchanger in flow communication with the heat recovery steam generator and the thermal storage unit, the second heat exchanger facilitating a direct heat transfer of thermal energy from the thermal storage working medium in the thermal storage unit to the fluid supplied from the heat recovery steam generator.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for active inlet turbine control. The systems and methods may include receiving a plurality of signals, determining a temperature gradient across an inlet of a gas turbine engine, and transmitting an activation signal to a modulating valve. Each of the plurality of signals may correspond to a temperature measured by one of a plurality of sensors located proximate the inlet of the gas turbine engine. The temperature gradient across the inlet of the gas turbine engine may be determined based on the plurality of signals. The activation signal may be operative to open or close the modulating valve based on the temperature gradient.

Abstract: A power plant system can comprise a first gas turbine having a first efficiency to produce a first exhaust flow, a first electrical generator driven by the first gas turbine, a first heat recovery steam generator to receive the first exhaust flow and generate a first steam flow, a second gas turbine having a second efficiency less than the first efficiency to produce a second exhaust flow, a second electrical generator driven by the second gas turbine, and an exhaust gas conditioning device to reduce temperature of the second exhaust flow, a steam turbine driving a steam electrical generator to receive the first steam flow. The second gas turbine can be selectively operated to generate electricity with the second electrical generator under peak loading conditions when a sum of output from the steam electrical generator and the first electrical generator are less than an electrical demand from a grid.

Abstract: A method for starting a steam turbine can comprise electrically decoupling a generator configured to be driven by the steam turbine from a power supply, controlling power from the power supply to a frequency converter, and operating the generator as a starter motor with power from the frequency converter to turn the steam turbine. A power plant system can comprise a steam turbine, a generator configured to be driven by the steam turbine to supply power to a grid system, a first switch to electrically couple and decouple the generator from the grid system, a frequency converter electrically coupled to the generator, and a second switch to electrically couple and decouple the frequency converter form the grid system.

Abstract: An emission reduction system for a combined cycle power plant including a gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) can comprise a stationary emission converter in fluid communication with and disposed upstream of the HRSG, and a diversion system operably coupled to an exhaust passage of the gas turbine, the exhaust passage defining an exhaust path for exhaust gas of the gas turbine through the heat recovery steam generator, the diversion system operable to define a primary exhaust path excluding the stationary emission converter and a start-up exhaust path including the stationary emission converter.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine rotor assembly comprises a torque tube, turbine stage and stiffening mass. The torque tube comprises a shaft extending from a forward location to an aft end, and a shaft fastening flange disposed at the aft end. The turbine stage comprises a disc, a disc adapter extending forward from the disc, and a disc fastening flange extending from the disc adapter and couplable to the shaft fastening flange at an interface. The stiffening mass is positioned proximate the interface to reduce operational stress in the torque tube. A method of reducing operational stress in a rotor assembly comprises de-stacking a rotor stack, separating a first stage rotor disc adapter from a torque tube, attaching a stiffening mass to an inner diameter of one or both of the disc adapter and the torque tube, attaching the disc adapter to the torque tube, and re-stacking the rotor stack.

Abstract: A method for measuring a non-magnetic coating thickness upon a non-magnetic gas turbine component, such as a hot gas path component, can comprise applying a magnetic coating, such as a ferrous coating, upon the non-magnetic gas turbine component, applying a non-magnetic coating, such as a metallic bond coating, upon the magnetic coating, and measuring a thickness of the non-magnetic coating with a magnetic induction probe. The magnetic induction probe can be calibrated to the magnetic coating before the non-magnetic coating is applied. Measuring of the thickness of the non-magnetic coating can be used to validate spray patterns of automated spray processes. The magnetic and non-magnetic coatings can be stripped from the gas turbine component and used to validate additional spray patterns.

Abstract: Systems and methods for starting a gas turbine engine can comprise a generator to be driven by the gas turbine engine to supply power to a grid system, a first switch to electrically couple and decouple the generator from the grid system, a first static frequency converter having a first capacity, a second static frequency converter having a second capacity, control means for electrically coupling and decoupling the first and second static frequency converters from the grid system, a synchronizer and a controller configured to operate the generator as a starter-motor with power from: the first static frequency converter to turn the gas turbine engine at a first rate sufficient to start the gas turbine engine within a first time period or the first static frequency converter and the second static frequency converter in synchronization to turn the gas turbine engine at a second rate greater than the first rate.

Abstract: A method (110) of controlling an imbalance response in a power plant comprising first and second gas turbine engines and a steam turbine driven by steam generated by exhaust from the first and second gas turbine engines can comprise operating the first gas turbine engine at a first power output (116A), operating the second gas turbine engine at a second power output (116B), monitoring load demand from a power grid operating at a steady state condition (114), detecting a load imbalance on the power grid (120) that causes a deviation from the steady state condition, and adjusting the first power output and the second power output incongruently (128) during the imbalance response to change the first power output and the second power output to match the deviation from the steady state condition depending on contemporaneous efficiency states of the first and second gas turbine engines.

Abstract: A waste water processing system includes an upflow contacting column having a flue gas input for receiving flue gas having a temperature of at least 500 degrees F., a waste water input, and a flue gas output. The waste water input is coupled to a fluid injector, e.g., atomizing nozzles, positioned in the throat of a Venturi portion of the upflow contacting column or in a sidewall of the throat of the Venturi portion of the upflow contacting column. The flue gas in the upflow contacting column has a high velocity, e.g., a gas velocity exceeding 65 fps in the throat of the Venturi portion of the upflow contacting column at a position where the fluid injector is located. Drying additives such as recycled ash, lime, and/or cement may be, and sometimes are, input into the upflow contacting column downstream of the waste water input.