Performance enhanced gas turbine powerplants

Claim 1

A gas turbine driven powerplant, comprising: (a) first compressor means for producing a downstream flow of air; (b) intercooler means for transferring heat from said flow of air to a fluid, said intercooler means including a first fluid carrying coil, said intercooler means positioned downstream of said first compressor means; (c) cooling tower means for transferring heat from said fluid to ambient air, said cooling tower means coupled to said first fluid carrying coil; (d) second compressor means for receiving said cooled air and producing a higher pressure downstream flow of air, said second compressor means positioned downstream of said intercooler means; (e) a heat exchanger, said heat exchanger including a first section positioned downstream of said second compressor means, said heat exchanger including a second section positioned downstream of said first section, said first section including a second fluid carrying coil wherein heat contained in compressed air flowing through said second section of said heat exchanger is transferred to a fluid flowing through said second fluid carrying coil, said second section including a third fluid carrying coil, said heat exchanger including a coolant air outlet positioned downstream of said first section and upstream of the second section; (f) a combustor positioned downstream of said second section of said heat exchanger wherein said fluid flowing through said second fluid carrying coil flows into said combustor; (g) a turbine positioned downstream of said combustor; and (h) exhaust heat recovery means for transferring heat contained in exhaust gasses produced by said combustor to a fluid, said exhaust heat recovery means positioned downstream of said turbine, said exhaust heat recovery means including a fourth fluid carrying coil coupled to said third fluid carrying coil.