The invention is a method for retrofitting a power plant that reduces the
consumption of fossil fuel using compressed heated air by retrofitting the
power plant by adding at least three heat exchangers, a vessel, a pump,
and control system to the power plant, wherein the first heat exchanger
receives compressed heated air from a power source and produces heated
heat exchange fluid, a second heat exchanger heats a hydrocarbon flow that
drives a turbine coupled to a generator, wherein the generator produces
power and exhaust gases, wherein the method entails pumping a heat
exchange fluid through a first heat exchanger; exchanging heat with
compressed heated air; splitting heated fluid flow into a second and third
heat exchanger; flowing the heated fluid through a second heat exchanger
exchanging heat with a hydrocarbon flow; flowing the heated fluid from the
first to third heat exchanger; and using the vessel to accommodate fluid
thermal expansion.
