A combined-cycle power plant uses both a gas and a steam turbine together to produce up to 50% more electricity from the same fuel than a traditional simple-cycle plant. The waste heat from the gas turbine is routed to the nearby steam turbine, which generates extra power.
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How a combined cycle power plant produces electricity
This is how a combined-cycle plant works to produce electricity and captures waste heat from the gas turbine to increase efficiency and electrical output.
1) Gas turbine burns fuel:
- The gas turbine compresses air and mixes it with fuel that is heated to a very high temperature. The hot air-fuel mixture moves through the gas turbine blades, making them spin.
- The fast-spinning turbine drives a generator that converts a portion of the spinning energy into electricity.
2) Heat recovery system captures exhaust:
- A heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) captures exhaust heat from the gas turbine that would otherwise escape through the exhaust stack.
- The HRSG creates steam from the gas turbine exhaust heat and delivers it to the steam turbine.
3) Steam turbine delivers additional electricity:
- The steam turbine sends its energy to the generator drive shaft, where it is converted into additional electricity.
Gas turbine combustion 101
Thermal combustion is the key chemical reaction that powers our gas turbines. Learn how gas turbine combustion works with GE Vernova.
Thermal combustion is the key chemical reaction that powers our gas turbines. Learn how gas turbine combustion works with GE Vernova.
Extending the Life of the Penal Power Station
At the combined-cycle power station in Penal, GE modernized turbine components that were 30+ years old. See the site’s efficiency gains in this first flange-to-flange parts replacement project in Latin America.
At the combined-cycle power station in Penal, GE modernized turbine components that were 30+ years old. See the site’s efficiency gains in this first flange-to-flange parts replacement project in Latin America.
Malaysia's Sultan Ibrahim Power Plant employs 9HA gas turbines
What does it take to be a leader in 9HA technology? The world’s fastest growing fleet in its class, an eye on a zero-carbon future, and proven partnerships. Southern Power Generation’s Track 4A power plant (Sultan Ibrahim Power Plant) hit a milestone with the integration of GE’s advanced 9HA.02 gas turbines in Malaysia.
What does it take to be a leader in 9HA technology? The world’s fastest growing fleet in its class, an eye on a zero-carbon future, and proven partnerships. Southern Power Generation’s Track 4A power plant (Sultan Ibrahim Power Plant) hit a milestone with the integration of GE’s advanced 9HA.02 gas turbines in Malaysia.
Our role in cutting carbon
GE Gas Power brings decades of experience in reducing carbon emissions with the development of advanced combustion technologies and carbon capture systems. We’ve worked with customers in many regions around the world when it comes to coal-to-gas switching, enabling a meaningful reduction in emissions.
GE Gas Power brings decades of experience in reducing carbon emissions with the development of advanced combustion technologies and carbon capture systems. We’ve worked with customers in many regions around the world when it comes to coal-to-gas switching, enabling a meaningful reduction in emissions.
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