Gland steam condenser for a combined cycle power plant and methods of operating the same

A method of operating a combined cycle power plant comprising, the method comprising:

• generating steam in a heat recovery steam generator;
• channeling the steam from the heat recovery steam generator through a steam turbine;
• channeling a first portion of exhaust steam from the steam turbine through a primary condenser and a condensate extraction pump;
• channeling a second portion of exhaust steam from the steam turbine into a gland steam condenser;
• and
• channeling cooling fluid at a pressure of between about 100 to about 180 pounds per square inch gauge through the gland steam condenser from a cooling module to condense the second portion of exhaust steam, the cooling module being fluidly isolated from the condensate extraction pump.

A combined cycle power plant comprising:

• a gas turbine engine;
• a heat recovery steam generator configured to generate steam from exhaust of said gas turbine engine;
• a steam turbine fluidly coupled to said heat recovery steam generator for receiving steam from said heat recovery steam generator;
• a primary condenser fluidly coupled to said steam turbine for receiving a first portion of exhaust steam from said steam turbine and to condense the first portion of exhaust steam into a liquid fluid;
• a condensate extraction pump fluidly coupled to said primary condenser for receiving the condensed first portion of exhaust steam;
• and
• a cooling system fluidly isolated from said primary condenser and from said condensate extraction pump, said cooling system comprising:
• a gland steam condenser coupled in flow communication with said steam turbine for receiving a second portion of exhaust steam from said steam turbine and for condensing the second portion of exhaust steam into liquid form;
• and
• a closed cooling water fin fan cooler coupled in flow communication with said gland steam condenser for supplying a cooling fluid to said gland steam condenser.