Atomizing air heat for attemperation

A feed water circuit for attemperation in a heat recovery steam generator via an atomizing air system, the feed water circuit comprising:

• a feed water extraction line communicating feed water from the heat recovery steam generator;
• a feed water inlet line in series with the feed water extraction line and communicating the feed water to an atomizing air cooler of the atomizing air system;
• a heat exchange line in series with the feed water inlet line and disposed in a heat exchange relationship with the atomizing air cooler;
• and
• an attemperation line in series with the heat exchange line and communicating heated feed water from the heat exchange line to an attemperation inlet in the heat recovery steam generator.

A method of attemperating steam using an integrated attemperation and atomizing air system for a combined cycle turbine including a gas turbine and a steam turbine, the method comprising:

• receiving compressor discharge air in the atomizing air system for fuel atomization, the atomizing air system including an atomizing air cooler that serves to cool the compressor discharge air;
• receiving in a heat recovery steam generator exhaust from the gas turbine and generating steam for input to the steam turbine;
• drawing feed water from the heat recovery steam generator and heating the feed water by communicating in a heat exchange relationship with the atomizing air cooler;
• communicating the heated feed water to an attemperation system of the heat recovery steam generator;
• and
• controlling a temperature of the steam by the attemperation system.