(19) United States
`(12) Reissued Patent
`Pierson
`
`USOORE44079E
`
`US RE44,079 E
`(10) Patent Number:
`Mar. 19, 2013
`(45) Date of Reissued Patent:
`
`(54) METHOD OF CHILLING INLET AIR FOR
`GAS TURBINES
`
`(75) Inventor: Tom L. Pierson, Sugar Land, TX (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: TAS, Ltd., Houston, TX (US)
`
`(21) Appl.No.: 12/661,265
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Mar. 12, 2010
`
`Related US. Patent Documents
`
`7,343,746
`Mar. 18, 2008
`10/894,453
`Jul. 19, 2004
`
`Reissue of:
`(64) Patent No.:
`Issued:
`Appl. No.:
`Filed:
`US. Applications:
`(63) Continuation of application No. 10/206,856, ?led on
`Jul. 26, 2002, now Pat. No. 6,769,258, which is a
`continuation-in-part of application No. 09/961,711,
`?led on Sep. 24, 2001, now Pat. No. 6,470,686, which
`is a continuation of application No. 09/369,788, ?led
`onAug. 6, 1999, now Pat. No. 6,318,065.
`
`(51) Int. C].
`(2006.01)
`F 02C 1/00
`(52) US. Cl. .......................................... .. 60/772; 60/728
`(58) Field of Classi?cation Search .................. .. 60/772,
`60/773, 775, 728, 39.3, 266, 267
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`1,781,541 A 11/1930 Einstein
`2,336,066 A 12/1943 Cain
`2,689,467 A
`9/1954 Verber
`3,148,513 A
`9/1964 Ewing
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Dorgan, Charles E., et al., Design Guide for C001 Thermal Storage;
`ChilledWater Storage; pp. 4-1 to 4-7; 4-10 to 4-18; 4-24 to 4-26; 1993
`
`by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Condi
`tioning Engineers, Inc.; Atlanta, Georgia; ISBN 1-883413-07-9.
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner * William H Rodriguez
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Haynes and Boone, LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`[A method for cooling inlet air to a gas turbine is provided.
`For example, a method is described including passing inlet air
`through a cooling coil that includes an opening for receiving
`the inlet air and that is operably connected to a gas turbine
`power plant. The gas turbine power plant may include at least
`one gas turbine, and at least one gas turbine inlet which
`receives the inlet air. The method may further include pas sing
`circulating water through a water chiller at a ?rst ?ow rate to
`reduce the temperature of the circulating water, the water
`chiller including a conduit through which the circulating
`water is capable of passing and passing the circulating water
`having the ?rst ?ow rate through the cooling coil in an amount
`suf?cient to lower the temperature of the inlet air. Addition
`ally, the method may include reducing the ?ow rate of the
`circulating water passing through the water chiller, passing
`the circulating water through a water chiller at a second ?ow
`rate to reduce the temperature of the circulating water, the
`second ?ow rate being lower than the ?rst ?ow rate, and
`passing the circulating water having the second ?ow rate
`through the cooling coil in an amount su?icient to lower the
`temperature of the inlet air.] A system for cooling inlet air to
`a gas turbine is provided. In order to maintain a desired level
`ofe?iciencyfor a gas turbineplant, water ispassed through a
`chiller to lower the water temperature. The cooled water is
`then circulated through coils disposed in the inlet air ofthe
`gas turbine, thereby cooling the inlet air to the gas turbine.
`The system may include a thermal energy storage tank for
`storing chilled water prior to circulation through the coils.
`The system may also utilize an air temperature set point
`selected to achieve a desired output or to meet load require
`mentfor the gas turbineplant. The temperature or?ow rate of
`the cooled water may be adjusted to achieve the selected air
`temperature set point.
`
`59 Claims, 9 Drawing Sheets
`
`COOLING TOWER
`
`COOLING
`WATER
`CIRCULATING
`PUMPS
`
`||\.
`./||
`\U—ll "—117
`UPSTREAM DUPLEX CHILLER umr
`
`./||
`ll).
`II
`II
`\ll—ll L—lV
`DOWNSTREAM DUPLEX CHILLER UNIT
`
`|
`
`\ETIONAL IN LET FOGGIBQ
`
`PAGE 1 of 30
`
`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1303
`
`

`
`,
`
`,
`
`a
`
`a
`
`a
`
`'
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,244,191 A
`1/1981 Hendricks
`4,244,517 A
`1/1981 Stanke et al.
`4,418,527 A 12/1983 Schlom et al.
`.
`4,446,703 A
`5/1984 Gilbertson
`.
`4,792,091 A 12/1988 Martinez, Jr.
`5/1990 Martinez Jr
`4926 649 A
`4,951,460 A
`8/1990 Prochaska et al‘
`5,012,646 A
`5/ 1991 Speer
`5,065,598 A 11/1991 Kurisu et al.
`2
`ETOChaSka 6; al~
`5,191,767 A
`3/1993 Kane et al‘
`5,321,944 A
`6/1994 Bronicki et al‘
`5,386,685 A
`2/1995 Frutschi
`5,444,971 A
`8/1995 H01enberger
`5,457,951 A 10/1995 Johnson et al~
`5,465,585 A 11/1995 Mornhed et al.
`5 622 044 A
`4/1997 Bronicki et al‘
`5,632,148 A
`5/1997 Bronicki et al‘
`536553373 A
`8/1997 Yamashita et 31‘
`5,758,502 A
`6/ 1998 Ulamura et al.
`5,782,080 A
`7/ 1998 Illbruck_
`5,782,093 A
`7/1998 YamQShlta et 31~
`5,790,972 A
`8/1998 Kohlenberger
`5 ’894’739 A
`4/1999 Temps
`6,173,563 B1
`1/2001 Vakil et al.
`
`ammarste t
`
`6,185,946 B1
`2/2001 Hartman
`-
`6,209,330 B1
`4/2001 Timmerman et al.
`6,301,897 B1 * 10/2001 Uchida “““““““““““““ H 60/728
`6,318,065 B1
`11/2001 Pierson
`6,324,867 B1
`12/2001 Fanning et al.
`6,405,549 B1
`6/2002 Baffes
`
`US RE44,079 E
`Page 2
`
`6/2002 Andrepont
`6,408,609 B1
`7/2002 Tisdale et al.
`6,422,018 B1
`6,470,686 B2 10/2002 Pierson
`-
`6,769,258 B2
`8/2004 Pierson
`-
`6,848,267 B2
`2/2005 Pierson
`-
`7,343,746 B2
`3/2008 Pierson
`*
`2008/0276617 A1 11/2008 Mak .............................. .. 60/728
`2011/0088399 A1
`4/2011 Briesch et al. ................ .. 60/728
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`>l<
`
`'
`
`_
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`Ondryas, Igor S., et al.; Options in Gas Turbine Power Augmentation
`Using Inlet Air Chilling, presented at the Gas Turbine and
`Aeroengine Congress and Exposition, Jun. 11-14, 1990, Brussels,
`Belgium.
`Holman, J. P., Thermodynamics, Second Edition; McGraW-Hill
`Book Company, NeWYork, 1974, pp. 450-455.
`.
`A
`0
`I
`1 O .
`. G T b.
`P
`ndryas, gor et a .,
`ptions in
`as ur ine ower ugmentation
`using Inlet Air Chilling, Jun. 11, 1990, The American Society of
`Mechanical Engineers, Article No. 90-GT-250, pp. 1-10.*
`American Soceity of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning
`Engineers, Inc., Chilled Water Storage; Design Guide for Cooled
`Thermal Storage; cover page; pp. 4-1 to 4-7; 4-10 to 4-18; 4-24 to
`4_26‘
`Ondryas, et al., Options in Gas Turbine Power Augmentation Using
`-
`-
`-
`-
`-
`Inlet Air Chilling, presented at the Gas Turbine and Aeroengine
`.
`.
`.
`Congress and Exposition, Jun. 11-14, 1990, Brussels, Belgium.
`.
`.
`Holman, J.P., Thermodynam1cs, McGraW Hill Kogakusha, 2nd ed.,
`Tokyo 1974, PP 452-451
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`PAGE 2 of 30
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`US. Patent
`
`Mar. 19, 2013
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`Sheet 4 0f9
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`US RE44,079 E
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`Mar. 19, 2013
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`US. Patent
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`Mar. 19, 2013
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`Mar. 19, 2013
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`PAGE 10 of 30
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`PAGE 11 of 30
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`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1303
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`

`
`US RE44,079 E
`
`1
`METHOD OF CHILLING INLET AIR FOR
`GAS TURBINES
`
`Matter enclosed in heavy brackets [ ] appears in the
`original patent but forms no part of this reissue speci?ca
`tion; matter printed in italics indicates the additions
`made by reissue.
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of Us. patent applica
`tion Ser. No. 10/206,856, ?led Jul. 26, 2002, now U.S. Pat.
`No. [6,769,528] 6, 769,258 which is a continuation-in-part of
`Us. patent application Ser. No. 09/961,711, ?led Sep. 24,
`2001 , now U.S. Pat. No. 6,470,686, which is a continuation of
`Us. patent application Ser. No. 09/369,788, ?led Aug. 6,
`1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,318,065.
`
`BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates broadly to cooling inlet air to a gas
`turbine.
`2. Description of Related Art.
`A conventional gas turbine system includes: an air com
`pressor for compressing the turbine inlet air; a combustion
`chamber for mixing the compressed air with fuel and com
`busting the mixture, thereby producing a combustion gas; and
`a power turbine that is driven by the combustion gas, thereby
`producing an exhaust gas and useful power.
`Over the years, various technologies have been employed
`to increase the amount of useful power that the power turbine
`is able to produce. One way of increasing the power output of
`a gas turbine is to cool the turbine inlet air prior to compress
`ing it in the compressor. Cooling causes the air to have a
`higher density, thereby creating a higher mass ?ow rate
`through the turbine. The higher the mass ?ow rate through the
`turbine, the more power the turbine produces. Cooling the
`turbine inlet air temperature also increases the turbine’s e?i
`ciency.
`Various systems have been devised for chilling the inlet air
`to the compressor. One such system uses evaporative cooling,
`wherein ambient temperature water is run over plates or over
`a cellular media inside of a chamber, thereby creating thin
`?lms of water on each plate, or on the media. The turbine inlet
`air is then drawn through the chamber, and through evapora
`tive cooling, the air is cooled to near the wet bulb temperature.
`This system is limited to cooling the air to the wet bulb
`temperature, which is dependent upon the atmospheric con
`ditions at any given time. Another system uses a chiller to
`chill water that is then run through a coil. The inlet air is then
`drawn through the coil to cool the air. This system requires
`parasitic power or steam to drive the chilling system which
`has the further drawback that when inlet air cooling is needed
`the most, i.e. during the day when the temperature is the
`highest, is also the time when power demand from the turbine
`is the highest, i.e. during the day when power users are in
`operation. In order to run the chiller, power from the turbine
`is required, but this power is needed by the users of the
`turbines power. On the other hand, when cooling is needed the
`least, i.e. at night when the temperatures are the lowest, sur
`plus power from the turbine is available because the consum
`ers of the turbine’s power are largely not in operation.
`Accordingly, a continuing need exists for a turbine inlet air
`cooling system which: would e?iciently cool turbine inlet air;
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`would take advantage of surplus power available during times
`of low consumer power demand; and would not drain the
`system of power during times of high consumer power
`demand.
`
`SUMMARY OF INVENTION
`
`A. Inlet Air Cooling
`Described in greater detail below is a method for chilling
`inlet air to a gas turbine power plant, which may include:
`providing a system of circulating chilling water including a
`chilling system; providing an inlet air chiller for lowering the
`temperature of the inlet air being fed to a gas turbine com
`pressor through heat transfer between the circulating chilling
`water and the inlet air, providing a thermal water storage tank
`which is operably connected to the system of circulating
`chilling water, the thermal water storage tank containing
`chilling water having a bottom; during a charge cycle, remov
`ing a ?rst portion of chilling water from the thermal water
`storage tank, passing the removed ?rst portion of water
`through the chilling system to lower the temperature of the
`removed ?rst portion of water and to provide a chilled
`removed ?rst portion of water, and then introducing the
`chilled removed ?rst portion of water into the thermal water
`storage tank at a point proximate the bottom of the tank,
`wherein the chilled removed ?rst portion of water is intro
`duced to the tank in an amount su?icient to lower the average
`temperature of the chilling water in the thermal water storage
`tank; and during a discharge cycle, chilling the inlet air by
`removing a second portion of chilling water from the thermal
`water storage tank, from a point proximate the bottom of the
`tank and then passing the second portion of chilling water to
`the inlet air chiller to make heat transfer contact between the
`second portion of chilling water and the inlet air, such that the
`temperature of the inlet air is lowered.
`In another method that is described herein, the average
`temperature of the chilling water in the tank may be lowered
`to about 33° F. to about 40° F. during the charge cycle and may
`be raised to about 60° F. to about 70° F. during the discharge
`cycle. In another speci?c embodiment, the times of the charge
`and discharge cycles may be such that, before the temperature
`of the chilling water proximate the bottom of the tank reaches
`about 36° F. during the discharge cycle, the charge cycle is
`initiated. In another speci?c embodiment of the method for
`chilling inlet air, the ?rst portion of chilling water removed
`from the thermal water storage tank during the charge cycle
`may be removed through a top outlet. In yet another speci?c
`embodiment, the chilling water in the tank may have an
`average temperature that can be lowered during the charge
`cycle and raised during the discharge cycle. In a further spe
`ci?c embodiment of the claimed method, the discharge cycle
`may be carried out during the night-time and the charge cycle
`may be carried out during the day-time. In still another spe
`ci?c embodiment, the water level in the tank may remain
`substantially constant during the charge and discharge cycles.
`In still a further speci?c embodiment, the one or more chillers
`may be deactivated during the discharge cycle. In another
`speci?c embodiment, the discharge cycle may occur during
`peak power usage of the gas turbine power plant. In another
`speci?c embodiment, the discharge cycle may be performed
`after the removing of at least a portion of the volume of
`chilling water from the thermal water storage tank during the
`charge cycle, such that the chilled removed water that is
`introduced into the thermal water storage tank at a point
`proximate the bottom of the tank may remain substantially at
`the point proximate the bottom of the tank. In another speci?c
`embodiment, the ?rst portion of chilling water removed dur
`
`PAGE 12 of 30
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`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1303
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`
`US RE44,079 E
`
`3
`ing the charge cycle may be suf?cient to chill substantially all
`of the water in the thermal water storage tank to a temperature
`below the temperature of maximum water density. In yet
`another speci?c embodiment of the claimed method, the sec
`ond portion of chilling water removed during the discharge
`cycle may be substantially all of the chilling water in the tank.
`In a further speci?c embodiment of the method of the present
`invention, the thermal water storage tank contains a volume
`of chilling water that is suf?cient to lower the temperature of
`the inlet air to a range of from about 45° F. to about 55° F. for
`a period of between about 4 hours to about 12 hours.
`Also described herein is a method of chilling water deliv
`ered to the air chiller in a gas turbine power plant system
`having at least one air chiller for lowering the temperature of
`inlet air, at least one air compressor for compressing the inlet
`air, at least one combustor for burning the compressed air and
`providing combustion gas, and at least one power turbine
`driven by the combustion gas for producing useful power, a
`method of chilling water delivered to the air chiller, the
`method including the steps of: providing the at least one air
`chiller with an air chiller inlet that may receive water, and an
`air chiller outlet that may expel water; providing a thermal
`water storage tank, having a bottom portion, a top portion, at
`least one bottom opening proximate the bottom portion and at
`least one top opening proximate the top portion, and contain
`ing a volume of stored water having an average temperature,
`and temperature of maximum water density; performing a
`charge cycle, by introducing through the at least one bottom
`opening a ?rst quantity of chilled water which has a chilled
`water temperature that is below the temperature of maximum
`water density, thereby lowering the average temperature of
`the volume of stored water, wherein the ?rst quantity of
`chilled water being introduced through the bottom opening is
`suf?cient to lower the average temperature of the volume of
`stored water to a temperature that is below the temperature of
`maximum water density; and performing a discharge cycle by
`removing a second quantity of chilled water from the tank
`through the at least one bottom opening and passing the
`second quantity of chilled water to the air chiller inlet, to
`lower the temperature of the inlet air, thereby raising the
`temperature of the second quantity of chilled water and pro
`viding high temperature water, then introducing the high
`temperature water to the at least one top opening in the tank.
`In yet another method of chilling water, the temperature of
`maximum water density may be from about 20° F. to about
`392° F. In another speci?c embodiment, the temperature of
`maximum water density may be about 392° F. In another
`speci?c embodiment, the temperature of the stored water may
`have a temperature of from about 34° F. to about 40° F. In yet
`another speci?c embodiment of the claimed method the tem
`perature of the stored water may have a temperature corre
`sponding to the maximum water density of about 392° F. In
`another speci?c embodiment sodium nitrate may be added to
`depress the freeZing temperature of the water thereby allow
`ing stored water to be in the range of about 25° F. to about 34°
`F. In another speci?c embodiment of the method of the
`present invention, the useful power produced by the power
`turbine may be consumed at a variable rate, and the charge
`cycle may be performed when the rate is at a minimum. In a
`further speci?c embodiment, the useful power produced by
`the power turbine may be consumed at a variable rate, and the
`discharge cycle may be performed when the rate is at a maxi
`mum. In yet another speci?c embodiment of the method of
`the present invention, the quantity of water expelled during
`the discharge cycle may be less than the volume of stored
`water. In a further speci?c embodiment, the quantity of
`chilled water may be chilled by passing water through at least
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`one chiller. In still another speci?c embodiment of the
`claimed method, the temperature of inlet air may be lowered
`from a high temperature of from about 85° F. to about 95° F.
`to a low temperature of from about 45° F. to about 55° F. In
`still a further speci?c embodiment, the high temperature may
`be about 90° F. and the low temperature may be about 50° F.
`In yet another speci?c embodiment, the output of the gas
`turbine power plant system may be from about 50 megawatts
`to about 250 megawatts.
`Also described below is a gas turbine power plant system,
`wherein the system includes: one or more air chillers for
`lowering the temperature of inlet air; one or more air com
`pressors for compressing the inlet air; one or more combus
`tors for burning the compressed air and providing combustion
`gas; and one or more power turbines driven by the combustion
`gas for producing useful power, and an improvement that may
`include: a thermal water storage tank for containing chilled
`water, wherein the thermal water storage tank has a bottom
`portion with a bottom outlet and a top portion, and the tank is
`operably connected to the air chiller such that the chilled
`water passes from the bottom outlet to the air chiller to lower
`the temperature of the inlet air and is returned to the thermal
`water storage tank; and a water chilling system for chilling the
`water in the thermal water storage tank, wherein the water
`chilling system is con?gured to receive high temperature
`water from the top portion of the tank, and wherein the system
`is con?gured to introduce low temperature water to the bot
`tom portion of the tank, such that the average temperature of
`the water in the tank is lowered; and wherein the water chill
`ing system includes one or more chillers for lowering the
`temperature of the high temperature water from the top por
`tion of the tank to provide low temperature water.
`In an example of such a gas turbine power plant system, the
`thermal water storage tank may have a bottom, and the bottom
`outlet may be positioned at a height that is less than about 10
`feet from the bottom of the tank. In another speci?c embodi
`ment of the gas turbine power plant system, the thermal water
`storage tank may have a bottom, and the bottom outlet may be
`positioned at a height that is less than about 5 feet from the
`bottom of the tank. In another speci?c embodiment, the ther
`mal water storage tank may have a bottom, and the bottom
`outlet may be positioned at a height that is less than about 18
`inches from the bottom of the tank. In another speci?c
`embodiment, the tank may have a top outlet and a bottom inlet
`such that, in a charge cycle the high temperature water may be
`removed through the top outlet and may be fed to the one or
`more chillers, and the low temperature water may be intro
`duced to the tank through the bottom inlet. In a further spe
`ci?c embodiment of the gas turbine power plant system, the
`tank may have a bottom outlet such that, in a discharge cycle,
`chilling water may be removed from the tank through the
`bottom outlet. In still a further speci?c embodiment of the gas
`turbine power plant system, the tank may have a bottom outlet
`such that, in a discharge cycle, chilling water may be removed
`from the tank through the bottom outlet, fed to the air chiller
`and is returned to the tank, bypassing the one or more chillers
`of the water chilling system. In still a further speci?c embodi
`ment of the gas turbine power plant system, the top portion
`may be separated from the bottom portion by a therrnocline.
`In yet another example, during the charge cycle, the bottom
`inlet may receive a quantity of chilled water that is suf?cient
`to supply the air chiller with water having a temperature
`below the temperature of maximum water density for four or
`more hours. In another speci?c embodiment, during the
`charge cycle, the bottom inlet may receive a quantity of
`chilled water that is suf?cient to supply the air chiller with
`water having a temperature below the temperature of maxi
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`PAGE 13 of 30
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`PETITIONER'S EXHIBIT 1303
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`US RE44,079 E
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`5
`mum water density for eight or more hours. In still another
`embodiment, during the charge cycle, the bottom inlet may
`receive a quantity of chilled water that is suf?cient to supply
`the air chiller with water having a temperature below the
`temperature of maximum water density for twelve or more
`hours.
`In still another example, the thermal water tank may have a
`height of from about 25 feet to about 70 feet. In yet another
`speci?c embodiment, the thermal water tank may have a
`diameter of from about 50 feet to about 250 feet. In another
`speci?c embodiment, the thermal water tank may have a
`diameter, and a height, and the diameter may be greater than
`the height. In yet another speci?c embodiment of the claimed
`invention, the volume of stored water may be greater than
`about eight hundred thousand gallons. In still a further spe
`ci?c embodiment, the temperature of the water in the top
`portion may be about 15° F. to about 35° F. greater than the
`temperature of the water in the bottom portion. In another
`speci?c embodiment, the thermal water storage system may
`include a plurality of thermal water storage tanks, each of the
`plurality of tanks may have a bottom inlet and a bottom outlet,
`and each of the plurality of tanks may have a top inlet and a top
`outlet. In another speci?c embodiment, the bottom inlet may
`have a bottom diffuser, and the top inlet may have a top
`diffuser, whereby the water entering the bottom inlet is dif
`fused, and the water entering the top inlet may be diffused. In
`yet another speci?c embodiment, the temperature of the water
`in the top portion of the tank may have a temperature ranging
`from about 60° F. to about 70° F. In still a further speci?c
`embodiment, the temperature of the water in the bottom por
`tion of the tank may have a temperature that is above the
`freezing temperature. In another speci?c embodiment, the
`water chilling system may include at least one mechanical
`chiller. In still another speci?c embodiment of the present
`invention, the water chilling system may include at least one
`absorption chiller. In still a further speci?c embodiment, the
`water chilling system may include at least one mechanical
`chiller and at least one absorption chiller. In yet another
`speci?c embodiment, the mechanical chiller may receive
`chilled water from the absorption chiller, and the mechanical
`chiller may further chills the chilled water. In another speci?c
`embodiment, the gas turbine power plant system may addi
`tionally including a heat recovery steam generator and a
`steam turbine, wherein the absorption chiller may be driven
`by steam from the heat recovery steam generator. Another
`speci?c embodiment of the gas turbine power plant system
`may additionally include a heat recovery steam generator and
`a steam turbine, wherein the absorption chiller is driven by
`back pressure from the steam turbine exhaust. In another
`speci?c embodiment, the inlet air may be lowered from a ?rst
`temperature of about from 85° F. to about 95° F. to a second
`temperature of from about 45° F. to about 55° F. in the inlet air
`chiller. In yet another embodiment, the ?rst temperature may
`be about 90° F. and the second temperature may be about 50°
`F. In another speci?c embodiment of the gas turbine power
`plant system, the chilling water being fed to the inlet air
`chiller may have a temperature of from about 34° F. to about
`40° F. In another speci?c embodiment, the gas turbine power
`plant system may additionally include a steam turbine and a
`heat recovery steam generator, and the heat recovery steam
`generator may receive exhaust gas from the power turbine and
`may provide high pressure steam to the steam turbine, and the
`steam turbine may provide low pressure steam.
`B. Additional Methods and Systems
`Embodiments of the invention additionally include pas sing
`inlet air through a cooling coil that includes an opening for
`receiving the inlet air and that is operably connected to a gas
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`turbine power plant. The gas turbine power plant may include
`at least one gas turbine, and at least one gas turbine inlet
`which receives the inlet air. The method may further include
`passing circulating water through a water chiller at a ?rst ?ow
`rate to reduce the temperature of the circulating water, the
`water chiller including a conduit through which the circulat
`ing water is capable of passing and passing the circulating
`water having the ?rst ?ow rate through the cooling coil in an
`amount suf?cient to lower the temperature of the inlet air.
`Additionally, the method may include reducing the ?ow rate
`of the circulating water passing through the water chiller,
`passing the circulating water through a water chiller at a
`second ?ow rate to reduce the temperature of the circulating
`water, the second ?ow rate being lower than the ?rst ?ow rate,
`and passing the circulating water having the second ?ow rate
`through the cooling coil in an amount suf?cient to lower the
`temperature of the inlet air.
`Additional embodiments may include providing a system
`of circulating liquid chilling water including a chilling system
`that includes a ?rst mechanical chiller and a second mechani
`cal chiller, the ?rst and second mechanical chillers being
`arranged in series and passing at least a portion of the liquid
`chilling water through the ?rst mechanical chiller and the
`second mechanical chiller, the liquid chilling water passing
`through the ?rst mechanical chiller being lowered to a ?rst
`temperature, and the liquid chilling water pas sing through the
`second mechanical chiller being lowered to a second tem
`perature that is lower than the ?rst temperature, thus provid
`ing a staged liquid chilling water temperature drop, wherein
`the staged liquid chilling water temperature drop is from
`about 20° F. to about 34° F. The method may further include
`providing an inlet air chiller, comprising a cooling coil
`through which liquid chilling water passes, for lowering the
`temperature of inlet air being fed to the compressor through
`heat transfer between the liquid chilling water passing
`through the cooling coil and the inlet air, wherein the inlet air
`chiller provides a liquid chilling water temperature rise of
`from about 20° F. to about 34° F. and chilling the inlet air by
`directing the liquid chilling water to the inlet air chiller and
`passing the liquid chilling water through the cooling coil of
`the inlet air chiller to make heat transfer contact between the
`liquid chilling water and the inlet air. Preferably, the method
`additionally includes adding potassium forrnate to the circu
`lating water in an amount suf?cient to depress the freeZing
`point of the circulating water. In the alternative, or addition
`ally, the method may include contacting the inlet air leaving
`the cooling coil with a control system, a temperature sensor,
`and a relative humidity sensor to monitor the leaving air
`temperature and relative humidity of the leaving air and vary
`ing the ?ow or the temperature of the circulating water to
`maintain a relative humidity of the coil to be