Abstract: A power plant includes a turbine disposed downstream from a combustor. The turbine includes an extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and which provides a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the turbine. An exhaust duct is disposed downstream from the turbine and receives exhaust gas from the turbine. An ejector coupled to the extraction port and to an air supply cools the stream of combustion gas upstream from the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas flows into the exhaust duct at a higher temperature than the exhaust gas. The cooled combustion gas mixes with the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct to provide a heated exhaust gas mixture to a heat exchanger disposed downstream from the exhaust duct. The heat exchanger may extract thermal energy from the exhaust gas mixture to produce steam.

Abstract: A system for controlling gas turbine output for a gas turbine power plant is disclosed herein. The power plant includes a gas turbine including a combustor downstream from a compressor, a turbine downstream from the combustor and an exhaust duct downstream from the outlet of the turbine. The exhaust duct receives exhaust gas from the turbine outlet. The system further includes an exhaust damper operably connected to a downstream end of the exhaust duct. The exhaust damper increases backpressure at the turbine outlet and restricts axial exit velocity of the exhaust gas exiting the turbine outlet when the exhaust damper is partially closed. A method for controlling gas turbine output is also provided herein.

Abstract: A power plant includes a compressor, a combustor downstream from the compressor and a turbine disposed downstream from the combustor. The compressor includes a compressor extraction port. The turbine includes a turbine extraction port that is in fluid communication with a hot gas path of the turbine and which provides a flow path for a stream of combustion gas to flow out of the turbine. An exhaust duct is disposed downstream from the turbine and receives exhaust gas from the turbine. A static mixer coupled to the turbine extraction port and to the compressor extraction port cools the stream of combustion gas upstream from the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas flows into the exhaust duct at a higher temperature than the exhaust gas and mixes with the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct to provide a heated exhaust gas mixture to a heat exchanger downstream from the exhaust duct.

Abstract: A power plant includes an exhaust duct that receives an exhaust gas from an outlet of the turbine outlet and an ejector having a primary inlet fluidly coupled to a compressor extraction port. The ejector receives a stream of compressed air from the compressor via the compressor extraction port. The power plant further includes a static mixer having a primary inlet fluidly coupled to a turbine extraction port, a secondary inlet fluidly coupled to an outlet of the ejector and an outlet that is in fluid communication with the exhaust duct. A stream of combustion gas flows from a hot gas path of the turbine and into the inlet of the static mixer via the turbine extraction port. The static mixer receives a stream of cooled compressed air from the ejector to cool the stream of combustion gas upstream from the exhaust duct. The cooled combustion gas mixes with the exhaust gas within the exhaust duct to provide a heated exhaust gas mixture to a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine system includes a gas turbine engine with a rotating element, at least one primary rotor shaft coupled to the rotating element, and a primary generator coupled to the at least one primary rotor shaft. The system further includes at least one auxiliary rotor shaft coupled to the at least one primary rotor shaft, such that rotation of the at least one primary rotor shaft causes rotation of the at least one auxiliary rotor shaft. The at least one auxiliary rotor shaft is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the at least one primary rotor shaft. An auxiliary generator is coupled to the at least one auxiliary rotor shaft, such that the auxiliary generator is in parallel configuration to the primary generator.

Abstract: Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

Abstract: Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

Abstract: Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

Abstract: Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

Abstract: Improved methods for anaerobic digestion of organic matter to produce biogas. Among the improvements given are including ferric iron in a hydrolysis reactor to increase the rate and efficiency of anaerobic hydrolysis to provide substrates for methanogenesis. A solids separation step is added after hydrolysis and before methanogenesis to improve the efficiency of the methanogenesis step. Other improvements involve using separate tanks for the hydrolysis and methanogenesis stages and using two (or more) methanogenesis tanks in sequence, and switching the order of the two (or more) methanogenesis tanks periodically.

Abstract: A power generation system includes: a first gas turbine system including a first turbine component, a first integral compressor and a first combustor to which air from the first integral compressor and fuel are supplied, the first combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the first turbine component, and the first integral compressor having a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of the first combustor and/or the first gas turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A second gas turbine system may include similar components to the first except but without excess capacity in its compressor. A control valve system controls flow of the excess air flow from the first gas turbine system to the second gas turbine system. A heat exchanger may be coupled to the excess air flow path for exchanging heat with the excess air flow.

Abstract: A power generation system includes: a first gas turbine system including a first turbine component, a first integral compressor and a first combustor to which air from the first integral compressor and fuel are supplied, the first combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the first turbine component, and the first integral compressor having a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of the first combustor and/or the first turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A second gas turbine system may include similar components to the first except but without excess capacity in its compressor. A control valve system controls flow of the excess air flow to the second gas turbine system. An eductor may be positioned in the excess air flow path for using the excess air flow as a motive fluid to augment the excess air flow to the second gas turbine with additional air.

Abstract: A power generation system includes: a first gas turbine system including a first turbine component, a first integral compressor and a first combustor to which air from the first integral compressor and fuel are supplied, the first combustor arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the first turbine component, and the first integral compressor having a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of the first combustor and/or the first turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A second gas turbine system may include similar components to the first except but without excess capacity in its compressor. A control valve system controls flow of the excess air flow from the first gas turbine system to the second gas turbine system. A storage vessel may be coupled to the excess air flow path for augmenting the excess air flow with additional air during a peak demand period.

Abstract: A power generation system may include a gas turbine system including a first turbine component, an integral compressor and a combustor to which air from the integral compressor and fuel are supplied. The combustor is arranged to supply hot combustion gases to the turbine component, and the integral compressor has a flow capacity greater than an intake capacity of the combustor and/or the turbine component, creating an excess air flow. A first control valve system controls flow of the excess air flow along an excess air flow path to a process air demand. An eductor positioned in the excess air flow path uses the excess air flow as a motive force to augment the excess air flow with additional air, creating an augmented excess air flow.

Abstract: A system includes a controller communicatively coupled to a compressor. The controller is configured to sense an exhaust temperature of a gas turbine system fluidly coupled to the compressor and derive a setpoint based on the sensed exhaust temperature. The controller is also configured to actuate an inlet bleed heat valve based on the derived setpoint and an ambient temperature. The inlet bleed heat valve directs a compressor fluid from the compressor into a fluid intake system fluidly coupled to the compressor upstream of the compressor and configured to intake a fluid.

Abstract: A wiretap connection assembly is for a circuit protection system. The circuit protection system includes at least one wire conductor and at least one circuit interrupter. The circuit interrupter includes a line conductor and a load conductor. The wire conductor has an electrically conductive inner core and an electrically insulating outer covering. The wiretap connection assembly includes a wire severing assembly structured to sever the wire conductor, and a number of wiretap assemblies. Each wiretap assembly includes a tapping portion and a connecting portion. The tapping portion is structured to pierce through the electrically insulating outer covering of a corresponding portion of the wire conductor and into the electrically conductive inner core. The connecting portion is structured to electrically connect the electrically conductive inner core of the corresponding portion of the wire conductor to a corresponding one of the line conductor and the load conductor.

Abstract: A method and system to extract gas from a gas turbine having at least one gas extraction mechanism placed at the turbine section that extracts exhaust gas directly from the turbine stages through the turbine casing, providing a first exhaust gas path that extends from the turbine section through the exhaust section to the exhaust gas outlet, and a second exhaust gas path for extracted exhaust gas extending directly from the turbine stages inside the turbine casing to a duct outside of the turbine casing. The gas extraction system and method can be applied to a cogeneration system.

Abstract: A method for scheduling cleaning of a photovoltaic (“PV”) system is implemented by a soiling monitoring computer system. The method includes determining a soiling level and a soiling rate for a photovoltaic (PV) system, calculating a cost associated with cleaning the PV system at each of a plurality of possible cleaning times, determining an expected energy output gain associated with cleaning the PV system at each of the plurality of possible times based on the soiling level and the soiling rate, calculating an expected benefit associated with cleaning the PV system at each of the plurality of possible cleaning times based on the expected energy output gain associated with each possible cleaning time, determining a first time of the plurality of possible times when the expected benefit exceeds the cost, and scheduling a cleaning time based on at least the determined first time.

Abstract: A turbomachine system includes a compressor portion having at least one compressor extraction, a turbine portion operatively connected to the compressor portion, and a combustor assembly including at least one combustor fluidically connected to the compressor portion and the turbine portion. A heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) is fluidically connected to the turbine portion, and an air inlet system is fluidically connected to the compressor portion. An inlet bleed heat (IBH) system is fluidically connected to each of the compressor portion, the air inlet system and the HRSG. An inlet bleed heat (IBH) system includes a first conduit having a first valve fluidically connecting the compressor extraction and the air inlet system, and a second conduit including a second valve connecting one of the HRSG and a secondary stream source with the first conduit.

Abstract: A method for calibrating irradiance sensors is performed by an irradiance analysis computing device in communication with a memory. The method includes receiving an irradiance estimate representing an expected amount of irradiance, receiving a first irradiance value associated with at least one irradiance sensor, processing the irradiance estimate and the first irradiance value to generate at least one irradiance metric, and determining a condition of said irradiance sensor based at least in part on the at least one irradiance metric.