Baseload efficiency improvement by using chilled water in evaporative cooler in lng application

A gas turbine comprising:

• a compressor;
• a combustor receiving compressed air from the compressor;
• a turbine receiving combustion gases from the combustor;
• an evaporative cooler disposed upstream of the combustor, the evaporative cooler cooling the compressed air input to the combustor;
• a fuel source in fluid communication with the combustor by a fuel supply line, wherein the combustor injects fuel from the fuel source into the compressed air from the compressor and ignites the mixture to produce the combustion gases;
• and
• a heat exchange circuit, including:
• an evaporative cooling medium circuit circulating an exchange medium, and
• a heat exchange portion of the fuel supply line in a heat exchange relationship with the evaporative cooling medium circuit,
• wherein the exchange medium is cooled by the fuel in the supply line, the evaporative cooling medium circuit directing the cooled exchange medium through the evaporative cooler, and wherein the fuel is heated by the evaporative cooling medium circuit, the supply line directing the heated fuel to the combustor.

A method of operating a gas turbine including a compressor, one or more combustors, a turbine, and an evaporative cooler, the method comprising:

• (a) circulating an exchange medium through a heat exchanger upstream of the evaporative cooler;
• (b) directing fuel through the heat exchanger with a fuel supply line upstream of the one or more combustors;
• (c) cooling the exchange medium in the heat exchanger by the fuel in the supply line;
• (d) directing the cooled exchange medium through the evaporative cooler;
• (e) heating the fuel in the heat exchanger with the exchange medium;
• and
• (f) directing the heated fuel to the one or more combustors of the gas turbine.