Computer control of combined-cycle power plants: Complete automation and coordination of the plant is possible — From startup through loading, and from full load to shutdown

Combined-cycle power plants using gas-turbine and steam-turbine technology have a number of features that make them attractive to the electric utility industry — including low capital investment per kilowatt of generation; low daily operational costs; and capability for use as a base-load unit as well as a peaking station, with very fast start capabilities. And there is increasing interest in future use of low-energy gas from coal for combined-cycle power plants. Since this gas is clean burning, some air pollution problems can be avoided compared with power plants dependent on coal-fired steam generation by itself.