System and method for heating combustor fuel

A gas turbine comprising:

• a compressor;
• a combustor downstream from the compressor;
• a turbine downstream from the combustor;
• a turbine exhaust plenum downstream from the turbine;
• a system for heating combustor fuel, comprising:
• a turbine exhaust plenum having an exhaust supply connection;
• a mixing plenum disposed downstream from the exhaust supply connection;
• a heat exchanger downstream from the mixing plenum, wherein the heat exchanger has an exhaust inlet in fluid communication with the mixing plenum, an exhaust outlet downstream from the exhaust inlet, a fuel inlet, and a fuel outlet;
• a blower disposed downstream from the exhaust outlet of the heat exchanger;
• and
• an exhaust recirculation plenum having a recirculation inlet connection downstream from the blower and a recirculation outlet connection fluidly connected to the mixing plenum, wherein the mixing plenum comprises a plurality of baffles downstream from the recirculation outlet connection and upstream from the heat exchanger inlet.