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Abstract

A method is provided to ensure that a combustion turbine power generation system may operate at maximum allowable power at elevated ambient temperature and/or at low air density. The method includes providing at least one combustion turbine assembly including a compressor, an expansion turbine operatively associated with the compressor, a generator coupled with the expansion turbine; a combustor feeding the expansion turbine; flow path structure fluidly connecting an outlet of the compressor to an inlet of the combustor; a compressed air storage; a charging compressor for charging the air storage; charging structure fluidly connecting and outlet of the charging compressor with an inlet to the air storage; connection structure fluidly connecting an outlet of the air storage to an inlet of a saturator, a water heater to heat water directed to the saturator, a recuperator for receiving preheated and saturated compressed air, an outlet of the recuperator being in fluid communication with the combustor; and valve structure associated with the connection structure and the charging structure to control flow through the connection structure and the charging structure, respectively. In accordance with the method, the valve structure is controlled to selectively permit one of the following modes of operation: (1) a combustion turbine mode of operation; (2) a compressed air augmentation mode of operation; and (3) an air storage charging mode of operation.

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