How a combined cycle plant works

Find out how a combined cycle plant works by using the infographic below.
CCGT
Inlet Air System Gas Turbine Heat Recovery Steam Generator Cooling Tower Main Step-up Transformer Steam Turbine
Inlet Air System

Ensures that the air required for combustion is clean and filtered and ready for combustion in the turbine.

1. Inlet Air System

Ensures that the air required for combustion is clean and filtered and ready for combustion in the turbine.

2. Gas Turbine generator

Produces electricity from the combustion of natural gas.

3. Heat Recovery Steam Generator

Recovers the energy from the hot exhaust fumes produced by the combustion of natural gas to produce high-pressure steam.

4. Cooling Tower

Cools the water through evaporation, which is used in the plant before being returned to the environment.

5. Main Step-up Transformer

The CCGT plant generates electricity at medium voltage; it must be converted to high voltage before it is fed into the network .

6. Steam Turbine generator

Uses the high pressure steam produced by the generator to generate additional energy.