Combined cycle power plant

A combined cycle power plant comprising:

• a combustion turbine comprising:
• a compressor configured to generate compressed air in ambient temperatures between approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit and 100 degrees Fahrenheit,
• a combustor to combust a fuel in the compressed air to produce combustion air, and
• a gas turbine to expand the combustion air to produce mechanical energy and exhaust gas;
• a heat recovery steam generator configured to receive the exhaust gas and transfer heat from the exhaust gas to water in order to generate a flow of steam;
• a condensing steam turbine configured to produce mechanical energy from the steam, the condensing steam turbine comprising:
• an input configured to receive the steam from the heat recovery steam generator;
• an output to output exhaust steam at a pressure between eight PSIA and sixteen PSIA when the gas turbine operates at full capacity, wherein the exhaust steam is output at an above atmospheric pressure of approximately sixteen PSIA when operating at a high ambient temperature, and wherein the exhaust steam is output at a below atmospheric pressure of approximately twelve PSIA when operating at a lower ambient temperature;
• a condenser to receive the exhaust steam from the steam turbine and to condense the exhaust steam to form a condensate;
• and
• an air cooled system coupled to the condenser and configured to cool the condensate.

A method of operating a combined cycle power plant having a combustion turbine, a heat recovery steam generator, and a condensing steam turbine system, the method comprising the steps of:

• operating said combustion turbine system to generate compressed air, to combust a fuel and a flow of exhaust gas, and to produce mechanical energy;
• directing the flow of exhaust gas through the heat recovery steam generator to transfer heat from the exhaust gas to water in order to produce a flow of steam;
• directing the flow of steam to the condensing steam turbine to generate mechanical energy from the flow of steam;
• exhausting an exhaust steam from the condensing steam turbine at a pressure between eight PSIA and sixteen PSIA, wherein the exhaust steam is output at an above atmospheric pressure of approximately sixteen PSIA when operating at a high ambient temperature, and wherein the exhaust steam is output at a below atmospheric pressure of approximately twelve PSIA when operating at a lower ambient temperature;
• directing the exhaust steam to a condenser, wherein the exhaust steam has a temperature above approximately 180 degrees Fahrenheit;
• and
• dissipating excess heat from the condenser using a dry cooling system.