# US 2014/0150447 A1 · Load ramp and start-up system for combined cycle power plant and method of operation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0150447 A1 - Document ID: US20140150447A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,797 - Filed: 2012-12-05 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-05 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Sanji Ekanayake; Julio Enrique Mestroni; Alston Liford Scipio; Gordon Raymond Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140150447A1 ## CPC - F01K 23/101: {Regulating means specially adapted therefor (F01K23/105, F01K23/108 take precedence)} - F01K 13/02: Controlling, e.g. stopping or starting - F01K 23/10: with exhaust fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle (F01K17/025 takes precedence) - F02C 6/08: the gas being bled from the gas-turbine compressor - F02C 7/18: the medium being gaseous, e.g. air {(F02C7/125 takes precedence)} - Y02E 20/16: Combined cycle power plant [CCPP], or combined cycle gas turbine [CCGT] - F01K: STEAM ENGINE PLANTS; STEAM ACCUMULATORS; ENGINE PLANTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ENGINES USING SPECIAL WORKING FLUIDS OR CYCLES (gas-turbine or jet-propulsion plants F02; nuclear power plants, engine arrangements therein G21D) - F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00) - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract The disclosure includes a load ramp system for a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) of a combined cycle power plant and a method of increasing the rate of the load ramp process of a gas turbine system of the combined cycle power plant. In one embodiment, the load ramp system for the HRSG of the combined cycle power plant includes a conduit in fluid communication with a supercharger positioned upstream of a compressor of a gas turbine system in the combined cycle power plant. The conduit of the load ramp system is configured to direct a portion of supercharged air for use in cooling the HRSG during a load ramp process of the gas turbine system in the combined cycle power plant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A load ramp system for a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) of a combined cycle power plant, the load ramp system comprising: a conduit in fluid communication with a supercharger positioned upstream of a compressor of a gas turbine system in the combined cycle power plant, the conduit configured to direct a portion of supercharged air for use in cooling the HRSG during load ramp of the gas turbine system in the combined cycle power plant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The load ramp system of claim 1, further comprising: an airflow sensor for sensing a flow rate of the directed portion of the supercharged air within the conduit; and an automated valve for regulating the directed portion of the supercharged air within the conduit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The load ramp system of claim 2, further including a diagnostic system operably connected to the airflow sensor, the supercharger and the automated valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The load ramp system of claim 1, wherein the supercharger is positioned in series upstream of an inlet air cooling system of the gas turbine system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The load ramp system of claim 1, wherein the supercharger is positioned in series upstream of an air inlet housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The load ramp system of claim 1, wherein a remaining portion of the supercharged air is provided to the compressor of the gas turbine system for increasing an inlet mass air flow rate of the compressor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The load ramp system of claim 1, wherein the conduit directs the portion of the supercharged air to an exhaust duct of the gas turbine system coupled to the HRSG. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The load ramp system of claim 7, wherein the conduit directs the portion of the supercharged air directly to the exhaust duct of the gas turbine system and the HRSG. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The load ramp system of claim 1, wherein the conduit directs the portion of the supercharged air directly to the HRSG. ### Claim 10 A load ramp system for a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) of a combined cycle power plant, the load ramp system comprising: a conduit in fluid communication with a supercharger positioned upstream of a compressor of a gas turbine system in the combined cycle power plant, the conduit configured to direct a portion of supercharged air for use in cooling the HRSG during load ramp of the gas turbine system in the combined cycle power plant; and an airflow monitoring system operably connected to the supercharger, the airflow monitoring system including: an airflow sensor positioned within the conduit, the airflow sensor for sensing a flow rate of the directed portion of the supercharged air within the conduit; and a diagnostic system operably connected to the airflow sensor, the supercharger and an automated valve positioned within the conduit, the diagnostic system configured to: modify a position of the automated valve in response to the flow rate of the directed portion of the supercharged air differing from a predetermined flow rate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The load ramp system of claim 10, wherein the automated valve regulates the directed portion of the supercharged air within the conduit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The load ramp system of claim 10, wherein the conduit directs the portion of the supercharged air to an exhaust duct of the gas turbine system coupled to the HRSG. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The load ramp system of claim 12, wherein the conduit directs the portion of the supercharged air directly to the exhaust duct of the gas turbine system and the HRSG. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The load ramp system of claim 10, wherein the conduit directs the portion of the supercharged air directly to the HRSG. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The load ramp system of claim 10, wherein the predetermined flow rate is based on at least one operational characteristic of the gas turbine system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The load ramp system of claim 15, wherein the at least one operational characteristic of the gas turbine system includes at least one of: a temperature of the gas turbine system, an ambient temperature surrounding the gas turbine system, an operational time for the gas turbine system, or a temperature of an exhaust gas generated by the gas turbine system. ### Claim 17 A method for increasing the rate of a load ramp process of a gas turbine system of a combined cycle power plant, the method comprising: during the load ramp process of the gas turbine system of the combined cycle power plant, directing a portion of supercharged air through a conduit in fluid communication with a supercharger positioned upstream of a compressor of the gas turbine system in the combined cycle power plant, the supercharged air for cooling a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG); and modifying a position of an automated valve positioned within the conduit in response to a flow rate of the directed portion of the supercharged air differing from a predetermined flow rate. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising measuring the flow rate of the directed portion of the supercharged air using an airflow sensor positioned within the conduit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the conduit coupled to an exhaust duct of the gas turbine system coupled to the HRSG, reducing a temperature of an exhaust gas generated during operation of the gas turbine system. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the conduit coupled directly to the HRSG, reducing a temperature of the HRSG during operation of the gas turbine system.