초록 ▼

Embodiments of the present invention may provide to a gas turbine a fuel gas saturated with water heated by a fuel moisturizer, which receives heat form a flash tank. A heat source for the flash tank may originate at a heat recovery steam generator. The increased mass flow associated with the satura

Embodiments of the present invention may provide to a gas turbine a fuel gas saturated with water heated by a fuel moisturizer, which receives heat form a flash tank. A heat source for the flash tank may originate at a heat recovery steam generator. The increased mass flow associated with the saturated fuel gas may result in increased power output from the associated power plant. The fuel gas saturation is followed by superheating the fuel, preferably with bottom cycle heat sources, resulting in a larger thermal efficiency gain.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A system comprising: a power plant comprising: a gas turbine comprising a compressor, a combustion system, anda turbine section which collectively generate an exhaust; anda HRSG comprising a heat-exchanging section that receives the exhaust and evaporates water into steam;a fuel moisturizer that

1. A system comprising: a power plant comprising: a gas turbine comprising a compressor, a combustion system, anda turbine section which collectively generate an exhaust; anda HRSG comprising a heat-exchanging section that receives the exhaust and evaporates water into steam;a fuel moisturizer that creates saturated fuel gas, comprising: an inlet comprising piping that receives water at a first temperature;a fuel gas inlet comprising piping that receives the fuel gas in an unsaturated or a dry condition;a direct contact heat and mass transfer area that mixes the water and the fuel gas to create saturated fuel gas;an outlet that discharges the water at a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature; wherein the water flows through associated piping to the HRSG; anda fuel gas outlet comprising piping that discharges the saturated fuel gas;a flash tank comprising: a supply comprising piping that receives water from the HRSG;a steam outlet comprising piping that discharges steam generated within the flash tank;a discharge comprising piping that connects to the inlet of the fuel moisturizer, allowing water to flow from the flash tank to fuel moisturizer; andwherein the flash tank rapidly reduces the pressure of the water received from the supply, causing a portion of the water to flash to steam, which discharges out the steam outlet, and causing the remaining portion of the water to flow to the fuel moisturizer via the discharge; anda fuel superheater comprising: a water supply comprising piping that receives water at a first temperature from the HRSG;a fuel gas inlet comprising piping that receives the saturated fuel gas from the fuel moisturizer;a heat exchanging area that allows heat to transfer from the water to the saturated fuel gas, operatively creating superheated, saturated fuel gas;a water discharge comprising piping that discharges the water at a second temperature, anda fuel gas outlet comprising piping that discharges the superheated, saturated fuel gas. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the HRSG is in a configuration of a single pressure HRSG and further comprises: a HP superheater section;a LP superheater section;a HP economizer section; anda HP evaporator section. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the power plant further comprises a steam turbine operatively connected to HRSG via associated piping, wherein the steam turbine receives steam from the HRSG and generates useful shaft power. 4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a condenser connected to the steam turbine, wherein the condenser comprises piping and structure that receives the steam from the steam turbine. 5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a processing plant connected to the HRSG via associated piping, wherein the HRSG sends steam to the processing plant. 6. The system of claim 1 further comprising associated piping that connects the steam outlet of the flash tank to the HRSG. 7. The system of claim of 2, wherein the flash tank is operatively coupled to HP economizer such that the supply of the flash tank derives from the HP economizer. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the cycle working fluid exhibits characteristics similar to H2O in its liquid phase (water), in its gaseous phase (steam), or combinations thereof. 9. A system comprising: a power plant comprising: a gas turbine comprising a compressor, a combustion system, anda turbine section which collectively generate an exhaust; anda HRSG comprising a heat-exchanging section that receives the exhaust and evaporates water into steam;a fuel moisturizer that creates saturated fuel gas, comprising: an inlet comprising piping that receives water at a first temperature;an inlet comprising piping that receives steam at a first temperature;a fuel gas inlet comprising piping that receives the fuel gas in an unsaturated or a dry condition;a direct contact heat and mass transfer area that mixes the steam and the water and the fuel gas to create saturated fuel gas;an outlet that discharges the water at a second temperature, which is lower than the first temperature; wherein the water flows through associated piping to a circ-water heater; anda fuel gas outlet comprising piping that discharges the saturated fuel gas;a circ-water heating loop comprising: the circ-water heater comprising an inlet fluidly connected to the water discharge of the flash tank; anda discharge port connected to the water inlet of the fuel moisturizer;a circ-water pump comprising an inlet port connected to the water outlet of the fuel moisturizer and a discharge port connected to a receiving port on the circ-water heater;wherein the circ-water heating loop operatively assists with increasing the temperature of the water entering the fuel moisturizer;a flash tank comprising: a supply comprising piping that receives water from the HRSG;a steam outlet comprising piping that discharges steam generated within the flash tank; wherein associated piping connects the steam outlet to the fuel moisturizer inlet;a discharge comprising piping that connects to the inlet of the circ-water heater, allowing water to flow from the flash tank to circ-water heater; andwherein the flash tank rapidly reduces the pressure of the water received from the supply, causing a portion of the water to flash to steam, which discharges out the steam outlet, and causing the remaining portion of the water to flow to the circ-water heater through the discharge; anda fuel superheater comprising: a water supply comprising piping that receives water at a first temperature from the HRSG;a fuel gas inlet comprising piping that receives the saturated fuel gas from the fuel moisturizer;a heat exchanging area that allows heat to transfer from the water to the saturated fuel gas, operatively creating superheated, saturated fuel gas;a water discharge comprising piping that discharges the water at a second temperature, anda fuel gas outlet comprising piping that discharges the superheated, saturated fuel gas.