STEAM BOTTOMING PLANTS FOR COMBINED CYCLES.

Steam turbine cycles for use as the bottoming portions of combined cycles are analyzed to permit rational judgement of their relative efficiencies in the combined cycles. Single, dual and multiple pressure cycles with and without reheat; steam pressures from 50 to 2400 psig, and steam temperatures to 1000 degree F are considered. The interaction of heat recovery boilers with the steam cycle is considered. It is shown that the primary criteria influencing relative merits of steam bottoming cycles is the heat input to the bottoming plant boiler per unit of gas flow to the heat recovery boiler.