A novel heat-recovery process for improving the thermal efficiency of gas turbines in electric power generation

This paper reports on a heat-recovery process which increases the thermal efficiency of power generation by gas turbines. Its calculated LHV efficiency of 54.8% compares with 47.9% for an intercooled, steam-injected turbine system. An Air Saturation Unit evaporates heated water into combustion air, in effect generating steam from water below its boiling point. The resultant mass flow of water vapor through the rest of the system reduces power used to compress air and permits better utilization of otherwise wasted heat. Preliminary estimates indicate that this power plant might cost only $90/kW more than a comparable steam- injected system.