# US 8,739,510 B2 · Heat exchanger for a combined cycle power plant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,510 B2 - Document ID: US8739510B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/913,898 - Filed: 2010-10-28 - Published: 2012-05-03 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-10-28 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: Rakesh Sivasankaran; Timothy Russell Bilton; Hatim Khandwavala; Indrajit Mazumder; Ezhil Nargunan - Inventors: Rakesh Sivasankaran; Timothy Russell Bilton; Hatim Khandwavala; Indrajit Mazumder; Ezhil Nargunan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739510B2 ## CPC - F01K 9/003: {condenser cooling circuits} - F01K 23/10: with exhaust fluid of one cycle heating the fluid in another cycle (F01K17/025 takes precedence) - F02C 6/04: Gas-turbine plants providing heated or pressurised working fluid for other apparatus, e.g. without mechanical power output (F02C6/18 takes precedence {; for a fluidised-bed combustor F02C3/205}) - F02C 6/18: using the waste heat of gas-turbine plants outside the plants themselves, e.g. gas-turbine power heat plants (using waste heat as source of energy for refrigeration plants F25B27/02; using the waste heat of a gasturbine for steam generation or in a steam cycle see F01K23/10) - F02C 7/12: Cooling of plants (of component parts, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. F01D; cooling of engines in general F01P) - F22B 1/1815: {using the exhaust gases of gas-turbines} - 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) - F22B: METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A combined cycle power plant includes a gas turbomachine, a steam turbomachine operatively connected to the gas turbomachine, a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) operatively connected to the gas turbomachine and the steam turbomachine, and a cooling system fluidly connected to the gas turbomachine. The cooling system is configured and disposed to pass a coolant through the gas turbomachine to absorb heat. A condensate system is fluidly connected to the steam turbine and the HRSG. The condensate system is configured and disposed to deliver a steam condensate from the steam turbine to the HRSG. A heat exchange member is fluidly connected to the cooling system and the condensate system. The heat exchange member is configured and disposed to transfer heat entrained in the coolant to the steam condensate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A combined cycle power plant comprising: a gas turbomachine; a steam turbomachine operatively connected to the gas turbomachine; a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) operatively connected to the gas turbomachine and the steam turbomachine; a cooling system fluidly connected to the gas turbomachine, the cooling system being configured and disposed to pass a coolant through the gas turbomachine to absorb heat; a condensate system fluidly connected to the steam turbomachine and the HRSG, the condensate system being configured and disposed to deliver a steam condensate from the steam turbomachine to the HRSG; a heat exchange member fluidly connected to the cooling system and the condensate system, the heat exchange member being configured and disposed to transfer heat entrained in the coolant to the steam condensate; a fin-fan cooler; and a bypass system selectively fluidly connecting the fin-fan cooler to the cooling system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The combined cycle power plant according to claim 1, further comprising: a controller operatively connected to the bypass system, the controller being configured and disposed to selectively fluidly connect the fin-fan cooler and disconnect the heat exchange member based on a temperature differential between the coolant and the steam condensate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The combined cycle power plant according to claim 2, further comprising: a recirculation pump fluidly connected between the condensate system and the HRSG, the controller being configured and disposed to selectively connect the recirculation pump to the HRSG and the condensate system when the fin-fan cooler is connected to the cooling system. ### Claim 4 A method of operating a combined cycle power plant, the method comprising: passing a coolant through a cooling system into a gas turbomachine portion of the combined cycle power plant (CCPP); absorbing heat from the gas turbomachine into the coolant; directing the coolant through a heat exchange member; guiding a steam condensate through a steam condensate system fluidly connected to a steam turbomachine portion of the CCPP; passing the steam condensate through the heat exchange member; transferring the heat entrained in the coolant to the steam condensate in the heat exchange member to form heated steam condensate; passing the heated steam condensate to a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG); sensing a temperature differential between the coolant and the steam condensate; and disconnecting the heat exchange member from the cooling system and connecting a fin-fan cooler to the cooling system if the temperature differential is outside a predetermined temperature range. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: connecting a recirculation pump to the steam condensate system when the fin-fan cooler is connected to the cooling system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: passing the steam condensate through the recirculation pump into the HRSG. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein disconnecting the heat exchange member from the cooling system occurs when the temperature differential between the coolant and the steam condensate is between about 15° F. (8.4° C.) and about 25° F. (14° C.). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein disconnecting the heat exchange member from the cooling system occurs when the temperature differential between the coolant and the steam condensate is between about 17° F. (9.5° C.) and about 22° F. (12.32° C.). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein disconnecting the heat exchange member from the cooling system occurs when the temperature differential between the coolant and the steam condensate is about 20° F. (11.2° C.). ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: maintaining a stack temperature of the HRSG at an acid dew point temperature with the heated steam condensate.