Method of operating a combustion turbine power plant having compressed air storage

A method of providing a combustion turbine derivative power plant integrated with compressed air storage, said power plant including a combustion turbine assembly having at least one compressor, at least one expansion turbine operatively associated with said at least one compressor, with at least one combustor feeding said at least one expansion turbine, and at least one electric generator coupled with said at least one expansion turbine, said at least one compressor communicating with an inlet to said at least one combustor via flow path structure,

• the method including:
• providing for compressed air introduction upstream of said at least one combustor feeding said at least one expansion turbine;
• providing for compressed air extraction from a discharge of said at least one compressor;
• upgrading a capacity of the electric generator;
• providing a compressed air compression storage and retrieval system comprising:
• at least one boost compressor;
• at least one electric motor to drive the boost compressor;
• at least one intercooler feeding the boost compressor;
• an aftercooler downstream of said boost compressor;
• and
• a compressed air storage downstream of said aftercooler;
• integrating said combustion turbine assembly and said storage and retrieval system to provide various flow paths through the said power plant by providing:
• integrating structure permitting communication between an outlet of said combustion turbine assembly compressor, via an intercooler, to an inlet of said boost compressor;
• charging structure connecting an outlet of said boost compressor to an inlet of said aftercooler, and connecting an outlet of said aftercooler to said compressed air storage;
• connection structure permitting communication between an outlet of said air storage and an inlet to the combustor;
• and
• valving to selectively control flow through said charging structure, said connection structure, said integrating structure, and said flow path structure,
• the integration ensuring selective provision of three modes of operations:
• a) a combustion turbine mode of operation, b) an air augmentation mode of operation, providing power higher than that provided by said combustion turbine mode of operation by directing complementary air flow from said compressed air storage to said at least one combustor feeding said at least one expansion turbine and c) an air storage charging mode of operation, wherein said air storage is charged with compressed air by said at least one compressor and said at least one boost compressor.

A method of providing a combustion turbine derivative power plant including a combustion turbine assembly having at least one compressor, at least one expansion turbine operatively associated with said at least one compressor, with at least one combustor feeding said at least one expansion turbine, and an electric generator coupled with said at least one expansion turbine,

• the method including:
• providing for compressed air introduction upstream of said at least one combustor feeding said at least one expansion turbine;
• upgrading a capacity of the electric generator;
• providing an additional compression and compressed air storage system comprising:
• a compressor structure;
• an electric motor to drive said compressor structure;
• an aftercooler downstream of said compressor structure;
• compressed air storage downstream of said aftercooler;
• integrating said combustion turbine assembly and said compression and compressed air storage system to provide various flow paths through the system with:
• charging structure permitting communication between an outlet of said compressor structure and an inlet to said aftercooler and from an outlet of said aftercooler to said compressed air storage,
• connection structure permitting communication between an outlet of said air storage and an inlet to said at least one combustor,
• valving to selectively control flow through said charging structure and said connection structure,
• the integration ensuring selective provision of three modes of operation:
• a) a combustion turbine mode of operation, b) an air augmentation mode of operation providing a power higher than that provided by said combustion turbine mode of operation, by directing complementary compressed air flow from said compressed air storage to said at least one combustor feeding said at least one expansion turbine, and c) an air storage charging mode of operation, wherein the said air storage is charged with compressed air by said compressor structure.