How does a CCGT^* work?

1. Ambient air is compressed and headed to the combustion chamber.
2. Natural gas is injected. At combustion chamber exit, the temperature of the gases is around 1,300°C.
3. The expansion of the hot gases triggers the rotation of the gas turbine’s shaft.
4. Hot Flue Gases (550°C) are headed to the inlet of a head recovery steam generator.
5. The expansion of steam triggers the rotation of the steam turbine’s shaft.
6. Low pressure steam condenses through a cooling system and is pumped back to the steam generator at low pressure level.
7. The generator produces electricity, 2/3 of which comes from the gas turbine and the remaining third from the steam turbine.
8. The electricity generated is fed into the high-voltage grid.

^* CCGT: Combined Cycle Gas Turbine.