System and method to improve combined cycle plant power generation capacity via heat recovery energy control

A method of adjusting, via a processor, one or more steam flow parameters of a flow of steam delivered to a steam turbine from a heat recovery steam generator via a plurality of control devices in communication with a plurality of valves, the processor programmed to execute at least the following:

• receiving a plurality of measured operating values;
• identifying steam turbine operating limits;
• identifying a plurality of candidate operating modes meeting the steam turbine operating limits;
• selecting the candidate operating mode of the plurality of candidate operating modes maximizing the one or more steam flow parameters while not exceeding the steam turbine operating limits;
• and
• directing the plurality of control devices to adjust the plurality of valves to meet the selected candidate operating mode.

A combined cycle system, comprising:

• a heat recovery steam generator;
• a steam turbine in communication with the heat recovery steam generator;
• and
• an energy control system for adjusting one or more steam flow parameters of a flow of steam delivered to the steam turbine from the heat recovery steam generator via a plurality of control devices;
• the energy control system maximizing the one or more steam flow parameters of the flow of steam from the heat recovery steam generator without exceeding steam turbine operating limits;
• the energy control system comprising a processor in communication with a memory.