Power plant having flexible firm skid

Abstract

To provide a power plant having a flexible firm skid.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM: A method includes: generating, with one or more power generators, total plant power; and supplying a first portion of the total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to meet an auxiliary demand. The auxiliary demand is generated through operation of the one or more auxiliary devices. The one or more auxiliary devices are thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more power generators. The method further includes: supplying a second portion of the total plant power to a flexible firm skid disposed within the power plant to meet a flexible firm demand; and supplying a third portion of the total plant power to a power system outside the power plant to meet a grid demand.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a power plant having one or more generators and a flexible firm skid configured to selectively generate flexible firm demand. [Background technology]

[0002] In an electric power system, multiple participants or generating plants generate electricity, which is distributed through common transmission lines to residential and commercial customers. As will be appreciated, thermal power generators, such as gas turbines, steam turbines, combined cycle power plants, and distributed generation, are relied upon to generate much of the electrical power required by consumers and industry. Each of the generating plants in such a system includes one or more generators, and each of these units typically includes a control system that controls the operation and, in the case of a power plant having more than one generating unit, the performance of the power plant as a whole.

[0003] Given the complexity of modern power plants, especially those with multiple generators, and the markets in which they compete, power plant operators continue to struggle to maximize economic returns. For example, changes in external factors (e.g., weather and grid demand changes) throughout the day, starting / stopping thermal generators (e.g., gas turbines) in response to these external factors, and operating thermal generators outside of their maximum efficiency ranges lead to inefficient operation, thereby reducing economic returns. To compensate for such variability, power plant operators often become overly conservative in planning future operations, which results in generators being underutilized. Power plant operators may also be forced to operate inefficiently to meet overcommitments.

[0004] Thus, improved methods and systems for controlling the operation of power plants are desirable and would be appreciated in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Aspects and advantages of the power plant and method of operation according to the present disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows, or will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the art.

[0006] According to one embodiment, a method of operating a power plant is provided. The method includes generating total plant power using one or more generators. The method further includes supplying a first portion of the total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to meet an auxiliary demand. The auxiliary demand is generated by operation of the one or more auxiliary devices. The one or more auxiliary devices are thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more generators. The method further includes supplying a second portion of the total plant power to a flexible firm skid disposed within the power plant to meet a flexible firm demand. The flexible firm demand is generated through operation of the flexible firm skid. The method further includes supplying a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid external to the power plant to meet a grid demand.

[0007] According to another embodiment, a power plant is provided. The power plant includes one or more generators. The power plant further includes one or more auxiliary devices mechanically, thermally, and / or fluidly coupled to the one or more generators and disposed within the power plant. The one or more auxiliary devices are configured to generate an auxiliary demand. The power plant further includes a flexible farm skid disposed within the power plant. The flexible farm skid is configured to generate a flexible farm demand. The power plant further includes a controller operatively connected to the one or more generators, the one or more auxiliary devices, and the flexible farm skid. The controller includes a memory and one or more processors. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the power plant to perform one or more operations. The operations include generating total plant power with the one or more generators. The operations further include supplying a first portion of the total plant power to the one or more auxiliary devices to meet the auxiliary demand. The auxiliary demand is generated by operation of the one or more auxiliary devices. The one or more auxiliary devices are thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more generators. The operations further include supplying a second portion of the total plant power to a flexible farm skid disposed within the power plant to meet a flexible farm demand generated by operation of the flexible farm skid. The operations further include supplying a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid outside of the power plant.

[0008] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the power plant and method of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the present technology and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the technology. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] A full and enabling disclosure of the present power plant and method, including the best mode, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, of making and using the same, is set forth in this specification, which makes reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a power system according to aspects of the present disclosure or in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be used. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a power plant according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] 1 illustrates a method of operating a power plant having a flexible farm skid according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a method of operating a power plant having a flexible farm skid according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 illustrates a method of operating a power plant having a flexible farm skid in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a controller in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the power plant and method of the present invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided for purposes of explanation, not limitation of the technology. Indeed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the technology without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed technology. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a further embodiment. Thus, the present disclosure is intended to cover such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0011] The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration." Any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, unless otherwise specified, all embodiments described herein should be considered exemplary.

[0012] The detailed description uses numbers and letters to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar designations in the drawings and description are used to refer to like or similar parts of the invention. In this specification, the terms "first", "second", and "third" may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another, and are not intended to imply the position or importance of the individual components.

[0013] A "fluid" may be a gas or a liquid. "Fluid communication" means that a fluid can communicate between specified areas.

[0014] As used herein, the terms "upstream" (or "forward") and "downstream" (or "rearward") refer to relative directions with respect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, "upstream" refers to the direction in which a fluid flows, and "downstream" refers to the direction in which a fluid flows. However, as used herein, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" can also refer to electrical flow. The term "radial" refers to a relative direction that is substantially perpendicular to an axial centerline of a particular component, the term "axial" refers to a relative direction that is substantially parallel and / or coaxially aligned with an axial centerline of a particular component, and the term "circumferential" refers to a relative direction that extends around an axial centerline of a particular component.

[0015] Approximate terms such as "about," "approximately," "generally," and "substantially" are not limited to the exact value specified. In at least some examples, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of a method or machine for constructing or manufacturing the component and / or system. In at least some examples, the approximating language may correspond to the precision of an instrument for measuring the value, or the precision of a method or machine for constructing or manufacturing the component and / or system. For example, it may refer to being within a margin of 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 15, or 20 percent at any of the individual values, ranges of values, and / or endpoints defining the range of values. When used in the context of angles or directions, such terms include a range of 10 degrees greater or less than the stated angle or direction. For example, "approximately vertical" includes a direction within 10 degrees of vertical in any direction, such as clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0016] Terms such as "coupled," "fixed," "attached," and the like refer to both direct coupling, fixing, or attachment, as well as indirect coupling, fixing, or attachment through one or more intermediate components or features, unless otherwise specified herein. As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," "including," "has," "having," or other variations are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus consisting of a list of features is not necessarily limited to only those features, but may include other features not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Furthermore, unless expressly stated to the contrary, "or" means "inclusive or" and not "exclusive or." For example, condition A or condition B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or exists) and B is false (or does not exist), A is false (or does not exist) and B is true (or exists), and both A and B are true (or exist).

[0017] As used herein, "demand" or "power demand," when used with respect to a device, refers to the rate at which electrical energy is consumed in operating the device at a given moment or during a particular period of time.

[0018] Throughout this specification and the claims, range limitations are combinable and interchangeable, and such ranges include all subranges specified and contained therein, unless the context or language indicates otherwise. For example, all ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with each other.

[0019] 1 is a schematic diagram of a power system 10 illustrating an example power system environment in which embodiments of the present disclosure may operate. The power system 10 may include one or more power plants 12 having one or more generators for generating electrical power. Such power plants 12 may include thermal generators 11, such as gas and / or steam turbines, and / or renewable generators 13, such as wind turbines or solar panels. Within the power system 10, a common transmission line 14 connects the generators 11, 13 to one or more loads or customers 16, which may include, for example, municipal, residential, and industrial customers. The transmission line 14 represents a distribution network or power grid for the power system 10 and may include multiple sections or substations, as appropriate.

[0020] The power system 10 also includes control systems or controllers that manage or control the operation of some of the components included therein. For example, a plant controller 22 may control the operation of the power plant 12 and the generators included therein, and a load controller 23 may control the manner or timing of power purchases by the customers 16. The power system 10 also includes a central authority, or dispatch authority 24 that manages a dispatch process in which load commitments are distributed among the power plants 12 to meet customer demand. The controllers 22, 23 may be connected via communication lines to a communication network 20 over which data is exchanged. The communication network 20 may be connected to or part of a communication network, such as the Internet, a private network, or a cloud network. Additionally, the controllers 22, 23 may receive information, data, and instructions from and / or transmit information, data, and instructions to data libraries and resources (or "data resources 21") via the communications network 20. The controllers 22, 23 may also store or house data repositories locally. The data resources 21 may include several types of data, including, but not limited to, market data, operational data, performance data, and ambient condition data.

[0021] In operation, for example, power plants 12 generate electricity via generators 11, 13, which is distributed over common transmission lines 14 for supply to customers 16. Pursuant to a dispatch process managed by a dispatch authority 24, the power plants may compete with each other to determine how each will perform to meet the anticipated load requirements of customers 16 during future generation periods. During the dispatch process, operators of the power plants 12 generate offer curves that include the generation costs for the future generation periods. The offer curves represent bids by the power plants 12 for the future generation periods and typically include an incremental variable cost curve or some other suitable indication of variable generating expense, which may be expressed, for example, in dollars per megawatt-hour versus megawatts of power. The dispatch authority 24 then uses the received offer curves to divide the anticipated load requirements for the future generation periods among the power plants 12. For example, the dispatch authority 24 may employ a competitive process known as economic dispatch to determine the level of commitment of each power plant 12 that will most efficiently meet the forecasted load requirements of the power system 10. In doing so, the dispatch authority 24's primary objective is to find the lowest cost of generation that meets the forecasted customer demand. Once this is done, the dispatch authority 24 issues commitment schedules to the power plants 12 that specifically outline the manner in which each will be engaged over the future generation horizon.

[0022] Once the commitment schedule is communicated to the power plants 12, the objective of each is to generate the committed output in a manner that maximizes economic profit. As can be appreciated, this objective becomes particularly challenging given the complexity of modern power plants. This complexity is the product of many factors.

[0023] For example, power plants today typically include many different generators of various types (such as thermal generators 11 and renewable generators 13) that allow for a multitude of alternative power generation configurations, each of which has its own economic considerations. Each of these generators 11, 13 must be maintained according to its own maintenance schedule, requiring periodic outages that must be carefully planned so as not to unnecessarily impact the operation of the power plant.

[0024] Additionally, the power industry is a highly regulated industry, with numerous laws and regulations that impact the operation of power plants. Finally, of course, fluctuating market conditions make short-term and long-term profitability a moving target. While traditional control systems may be adept at addressing some of these issues, for example, by implementing scheduling algorithms in which fuel flow rates, inlet guide vane settings, and other inputs are adjusted, the actual output and efficiency of a power plant is regularly affected by external factors that cannot be fully predicted, such as fluctuating ambient conditions and unplanned outages. As will be appreciated, the increasing complexity of power plants and the variability of operating conditions often result in inefficient operation, making performance difficult to predict and control. Furthermore, traditional control systems are often inadequate because they do not fully take advantage of the increasingly data-intensive aspects of the industrial world. In particular, current control systems have failed to realize the level of industrial optimization that the increasing availability of operating data allows, and this failure has resulted in power plants and generators being operated inefficiently and without maximizing economic profit.

[0025] Additionally, performance degradation is another factor that is difficult to quantify but that significantly impacts the operation and economic bottom line of a power plant. More specifically, the performance of a power plant's generators and machines degrades over time and must be considered when dispatching units and understood when evaluating the cost-effectiveness of a power plant. However, the rate at which gas turbines degrade varies based on many factors, including operating hours, load, operating regime, transient operation, and number of starts. However, many of these factors are interrelated and affect degradation in ways that are not fully understood. As an example, the operating hours-based life of a gas turbine may be extended by lowering the firing temperature, but this alternative reduces efficiency and increases fuel costs. Conversely, increasing firing temperature increases efficiency but reduces component life and increases maintenance and component replacement costs. In a similar manner, decisions regarding turn down, shut down, and rapid ramping also affect machine component life consumption and fuel costs. Furthermore, controlling a plant's generators in an overly static manner, i.e., using static control profiles, such as heat rate curves, derived from periodic performance tests, can have adverse effects on grid compliance and dispatch. During such upgrades, unit performance may have deteriorated to the point that the control profiles become outdated.

[0026] To compensate for all this variability, power plant operators often become overly conservative in planning for future generating periods, which results in bidding practices that make their units less competitive and underutilized capacity. Otherwise, they risk bidding beyond their current performance capabilities, which may force operators to operate their units inefficiently to meet load commitments. Thus, due to many complex and interrelated factors, power producers struggle to manage the life cycle costs and economic returns associated with generating power plants. A better understanding of these factors and the ability to more effectively balance the associated trade-offs will directly translate to improved economic performance of power plants. This means that unless short-term inefficiencies and long-term degradation are understood and identified, traditional power plant control systems may have to resort to frequent recalibration, resulting in costly outcomes, or may be bid and operated conservatively, negatively impacting the cost-effectiveness of the plant.

[0027] Taken together, these problems generally result in industrial assets, such as power plants and generators, being operated in a manner that does not maximize efficiency and economic return. Referring now to the following figures, embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed that address one or more aspects related to these ongoing problems.

[0028] 2 provides a schematic diagram of an example power plant 100 configured to generate total plant power 102 using one or more generators 104 and provide at least a portion of such power to a power grid 105 (e.g., via power lines 14) in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Each of the power plants 12 in FIG. 1 may be configured the same as or different from the power plant 100 shown in FIG.

[0029] As an example type of generator 104, power plant 100 is shown as including a combustion or gas turbine 106, although it should be understood that it may include various types of other generators 104. For example, as shown, one or more generators 104 may include a steam turbine 108 and a renewable generator 110. Renewable generator 110 may include a wind generator 112 (e.g., wind turbine) and / or a solar generator 114 (e.g., solar panels).

[0030] The gas turbine 106 may include a compressor 28 coupled to a downstream turbine section or turbine 29 by, for example, a shaft 50, with a combustor 30 in a combustion section 31 disposed therebetween. In one example of operation, rotation of rotor blades in the compressor 28 compresses a flow of air. In the combustor 30, energy is released when the compressed air is mixed with fuel and ignited, resulting in a flow of hot gases, or working fluid, directed over rotor blades in the turbine 29, rotating the shaft 50. In this manner, energy in the working fluid is converted to shaft rotation and used, for example, to drive coils in the generator 35 to generate electricity. For example, in operation, the gas turbine 106 may generate a gas turbine output 140, which may form a portion of the total plant power 102.

[0031] The gas turbine 106 produces heated exhaust gases 160 that may be fed to a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) 162 to produce steam 164. The steam 164 may expand in the steam turbine 108 to release thermal energy and rotate a shaft 166 that connects the steam turbine 108 to a generator 168. The generator 168 may convert the mechanical rotational energy into electrical energy, i.e., the steam turbine output 142, which may form a portion of the total plant power 102.

[0032] The power plant 100 may include any number of subsystems, components, generators 104, or industrial assets, each of which may be connected to a computer-implemented control system and communication network for control and performance optimization in accordance with the analyses, processes, and other functions described herein. For example, within such a control system, operational data may be collected and provided electronically to computer-implemented analyses, data repositories, plant or unit controllers, cloud-based services, and / or user interfaces or input devices (or "user devices") to enable various functions. Such functions may include derivation of control setpoints for operating the industrial assets, storage / recall of data, generation of graphical user interfaces, prompting / taking user input, decision support for long-term and short-term operations, automated control responses, and others, as may be provided herein. Thus, the networked computing systems, controllers, and associated computing resources of FIG. 2 can send and receive electronic communications to and from, and manipulate control settings associated with, each of the systems, subsystems, components, sensors, actuators, user equipment, and / or other equipment within the power plant 100 and included generators 104 in a manner consistent with functionality described herein, which functionality would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, whether expressly or implicitly recited in the appended claims.

[0033] As shown, each of the generators 104 may include a control system or controller that monitors and controls operation. For example, the gas turbine 106 may be operably connected to a gas turbine controller 116 (or "GT controller"). The steam turbine 108 may be operably connected to a steam turbine controller 118 (or "ST controller"). The renewable generators 110 may each be operably coupled to a renewable unit controller 120 (e.g., each of the renewable generators 110 may be coupled to the same controller or to different controllers).

[0034] The controllers 116, 118, 120 fulfill various control requirements as well as protecting against adverse or abnormal operating conditions. For example, the gas turbine controller 116 may perform many functions including fuel, air and emissions control, fuel sequencing for start-up, shutdown and cool-down, generator 35 synchronization and voltage matching, and monitoring of gas turbine control and auxiliary functions as may be described or implied herein. A plant controller 40 may also be provided in communication with each of the controllers 116, 118, 120. The plant controller 40 generally controls aspects related to the overall operation of the power plant 100, such as management and distribution of total plant power 102 between assets within the power plant (such as flexible farm skids and auxiliary equipment) and a power grid 105 external to the power plant 100.

[0035] The controllers 116, 118, 120 and the plant controller 40, which may also be collectively referred to herein as “controllers,” may each include a computer system having a digital processor or processing resources (or “processor”) and a machine-readable storage medium or memory capability (or “memory”). Alternatively, the controllers 116, 118, 120 and the plant controller 40 may be combined into a single controller having an integrated architecture. The controllers 116, 118, 120 and the plant controller 40, and their respective associated computer systems, may be connected to one or more user equipment 44. The user equipment 44 may be configured to receive and transmit communications from / to any personnel associated with the operation of the power plant 100 or the generator 104. The user equipment 44 may include, without limitation, any conventional device having a user interface, including mobile devices, laptops, and other workstations, whether located locally or remotely relative to the location of the power plant 100 or the generator 104.

[0036] The generators 104 may be monitored by various sensors that collect and transmit data to local and remote computer systems for analysis by, and control and operational feedback therefrom. For example, each of the generators 104 may include a number of sensors 56 configured to monitor certain operational aspects of the generators 104 to which they are operatively connected by detecting or measuring operating conditions or parameters of the overall operating engine. For example, the sensors 56 may include temperature sensors, pressure sensors, speed sensors, flame detector sensors, valve position sensors, and any other conventional sensors as expected from the functionality described herein. As used herein, the term "parameter" refers to a measurable physical characteristic of operation that may be collectively used to define the operating conditions within a system. Such operational parameters include, but are not limited to, temperature, pressure, humidity, gas flow characteristics, ambient conditions, fuel properties, and other measurables, as may be described or implied by the functionality described herein.

[0037] Additionally, each of the generators 104 may include a number of actuators 57 through which control of the generators 104 is achieved. For example, the actuators 57 may include electromechanical devices having variable set points or settings that allow for manipulating certain process inputs (herein "manipulated variables") to control process outputs according to a desired outcome or mode of operation. Thus, for example, commands generated by the GT controller 116 may cause one or more actuators 57 in the gas turbine 106 to adjust valves between the fuel supply system and the combustor 30 to adjust flow levels, fuel splits, or fuel type.

[0038] As will be appreciated, the computer systems of FIG. 2 , such as the controllers 116, 118, 120, execute code or software programs or applications (or, generally, “software”) configured to control the generators 104 and / or power plant 100 according to a desired mode of operation or to maximize predefined performance objectives. Such control may be responsive to operational data provided by sensors 56 and / or instructions received from user equipment 44, and such control may be implemented by manipulating one or more actuators 57. Additionally, the user equipment 44 may be accessed and used by plant managers, technicians, engineers, operators, energy traders, owners, and / or other stakeholders, as may be described or implied by any of the functionality provided herein. The software may include schedules, analyses, models, and algorithms for regulating any of the systems or subsystems described herein.

[0039] The controller 40 (and / or the controllers 116, 118, and 120) can receive information, data, and instructions from and / or transmit information, data, and instructions to the data resources 21. The data resources 21 may include any type of data implied by the functionality described herein. For example, the data resources 21 may include, but are not limited to, the following types of data: market data, operational data, and ambient condition data. For example, the market data may include information regarding market conditions such as energy selling prices, fuel costs, labor costs, regulations, etc. The operational data may include, for example, information related to the operating conditions of the power plant 100, one or more generators 104, or associated components. Such operational data may include temperature or pressure measurements within the generators 104 (e.g., gas turbine 106), air flow rates, fuel flow rates, etc. The ambient condition data may include information related to ambient conditions at the power plant 100, such as, for example, ambient air temperature, humidity, and / or pressure. The market, operational, and ambient condition data may each include historical records, current condition data, and / or data related to forecasts. For example, data resources 21 may include current and forecasted weather / climate information, current and forecasted market conditions, usage and performance history records relating to the operation of power plant 100 or generator 104, and / or measured parameters relating to the operation of other similar power plants or gas turbines that may be defined as having similar components and / or configurations. Other data, such as may be described or implied by the functionality described herein, may also be stored and recalled from data resources 21 as needed.

[0040] In many embodiments, the power plant 100 may include one or more auxiliary devices 122 that may be operably coupled to one or more generators. For example, the one or more auxiliary devices 122 may be thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more generators 104. In particular, the auxiliary devices 122 may be operably coupled to the gas turbine 106 (e.g., at least one of thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the gas turbine 106). The one or more auxiliary devices 122 may include pumps, fans, actuators (such as actuator 57), sensors (such as sensor 56), valves, or other devices coupled to the gas turbine 106. The auxiliary devices 122 may generate an auxiliary demand (i.e., an auxiliary power demand) during their operation. The auxiliary devices may at least partially facilitate the operation of the gas turbine 106. As such, the auxiliary devices 122 may be operable only during operation of the gas turbine 106, and thus may generate only an auxiliary power demand. An auxiliary may be a component of the gas turbine 106 that requires electrical power to operate, and thus, the auxiliary power demand may be the amount of electrical power required to operate the gas turbine 106 .

[0041] In an exemplary embodiment, the power plant 100 may include a flexible firm skid 124. The flexible firm skid 124 may be disposed within the power plant 100 and may be configured to generate (e.g., selectively generate) a flexible firm demand (i.e., flexible farm power demand). The flexible farm demand may be an amount of power required for the operation of the flexible firm skid 124 (i.e., consumed by the flexible farm skid 124 during its operation). The flexible firm skid 124 may not be mechanically, fluidly, or thermally coupled to the generator 104 (e.g., gas turbine 106), but may be disposed in close proximity thereto (e.g., within 500 meters, or within 350 meters, or within 200 meters, or within 100 meters, etc.). The flexible farm skid 124 may be positioned electrically upstream of the power grid 105 (e.g., electrically upstream of a first power substation and / or a customer 16 that may form part of the power grid 105).

[0042] In many embodiments, as shown, the flexible farm skid 124 may include a containerized demand sink 126 having digital assets 128 disposed within a housing 130. The housing 130 may be a movable structure or an immovable structure that surrounds and contains the digital asset(s). For example, in some embodiments, the housing 130 may be a shipping container, such as an 8 foot by 8.5 foot by 10 foot shipping container (which may be referred to as a "10 foot shipping container"), or an 8 foot by 8.5 foot by 20 foot shipping container (which may be referred to as a "20 foot shipping container"), or an 8 foot by 8.5 foot by 40 foot shipping container (which may be referred to as a "40 foot shipping container"). In other embodiments, the housing 130 may be an immovable structure, such as a warehouse or other permanent structure connected to the ground.

[0043] The flexible farm skid 124 may not be mechanically, thermally, or fluidly coupled to the one or more generators 104. That is, the flexible farm skid 124 may operate independently from the one or more generators 104, but the flexible farm skid 124 may be powered by electrical energy generated by the one or more generators 104. In this manner, the flexible farm skid 124 need only be electrically connected to the one or more generators 104.

[0044] The containerized demand sink 126 may include a data center 132, digital factory equipment 134, and / or computing units 136. The data center 132 may include multiple servers (e.g., computing devices that provide services, data, or resources to other computers or clients in a network), network equipment, and cooling systems. The digital factory equipment 134 may include additive manufacturing machines, computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines, industrial robots, or other equipment.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, the containerized demand sink 126 may include a computing unit (e.g., multiple computing units). The computing units 136 (e.g., cryptocurrency machines or miners) may be specialized computing systems configured to perform the complex mathematical calculations necessary to verify and secure transactions on a blockchain network. In particular, the computing units 136 may each include a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an applications-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), RAM, a computer chassis, a motherboard, a power supply unit, one or more cooling systems (such as fans or liquid cooling systems), and local communications device (e.g., modems).The computing unit 136 may function to perform heavy-duty computations such as data mining, graphic rendering, machine learning, cryptocurrency mining, blockchain validation, distributed ledger processing, and / or distributed computation. The computing unit may use secure hash algorithms such as SHA-0, SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-256 (the most common in the blockchain space and used by most coins, including various cryptocurrencies), as well as SHA-512 (a more complex version of SHA-256 with higher theoretical security and ability to withstand brute force attacks), SHA-3, SHA3-256, SHA3-512, etc.

[0046] In various embodiments, the flexible farm skid 124 can include a flexible farm skid controller 125, which can be in operative communication with a containerized demand sink 126. The flexible farm skid controller 125 can control and monitor operation of the flexible farm skid, including the digital assets 128. Additionally, the flexible farm skid controller 125 can be operatively connected to and in communication with the plant controller 40 such that control of the digital assets 128 is based on signals received by the plant farm skid.

[0047] In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible farm skid controller 125 can selectively operate all or a portion of the digital assets 128, thereby selectively generating and scaling flexible farm power demands as needed. For example, in an embodiment in which the digital assets 128 are multiple computing units 136, the flexible farm skid controller 125 can initiate operation of all or a portion of the computing units 136 (e.g., between 0% and about 100%). For example, the flexible farm skid controller 125 can provide power to the computing units 136 and instruct the computing units 136 to begin performing high-load power calculations (e.g., cryptocurrency mining), thereby generating a predetermined flexible farm demand that can be met or satisfied by providing a portion of the total plant power 102.

[0048] The flexible farm demand may be generated and met internally within the power plant 100. That is, the flexible farm demand may be generated by operating digital assets 128 within the power plant 100, and the flexible farm demand may be met (or satisfied) internally by utilizing power generated by one or more generators 104. In this manner, the power or electricity provided to the flexible farm skid 124 to meet the flexible farm demand does not go through the power grid 105, but rather is provided locally (i.e., within the power plant) via power generated by one or more generators 104. This allows the flexible farm demand to be internally maintained and supported at least in part by a particular generator's power output to maintain the generator's 104 maximum efficiency range.

[0049] The power plant 100 and each of the one or more generators 104 may operate at a maximum efficiency range at baseload conditions. At such conditions, the power plant and each of the one or more generators may generate a baseload power output. For example, the power plant 100 generates a power plant baseload output, the gas turbine 106 generates a gas turbine baseload output, etc.

[0050] For example, the gas turbine 106 may operate within a maximum efficiency range at base load conditions (where a base load output of the gas turbine is generated). Starting / shutting down the gas turbine 106, operating below base load conditions (e.g., generating a power output less than a base load power output), and / or operating above base load conditions (e.g., generating a power output greater than a base load power output) may cause the gas turbine 106 (and / or the entire power plant 100) to move outside of the maximum efficiency range. In this manner, while grid demand may fluctuate and weather may change, which may cause the output of the renewable generator 110 to be adjusted, flexible farm demand may be selectively generated (and scaled as needed) to continue to support the gas turbine 106 (and the entire power plant 100) at base load conditions regardless of the magnitude of the grid demand and / or the magnitude of the generated renewable power (e.g., regardless of the weather).

[0051] As one non-limiting example, if the renewable generator 110 is producing enough power output to meet current grid demand such that the gas turbine 106 is not needed or is needed to produce a level of power below baseload power output (e.g., weather conditions are sufficient to support this output), the flexible farm skid 124 can operate the digital assets 128 to generate flexible farm demand that is large enough to support operation of the gas turbine 106 (and / or the entire power plant) in baseload conditions, thereby maintaining a maximum efficiency range. In this same example, if weather conditions change (e.g., the wind stops blowing or the sun stops shining) or grid demand increases and the renewable power output is no longer sufficient to meet the grid demand, the flexible farm skid 124 can adjust operation to reduce or completely shut off the flexible farm demand, and the gas turbine 106 can continue to operate at or ramp up from baseload conditions to meet the grid demand and compensate for the reduced renewable power output.

[0052] This eliminates the need to start / shut down the gas turbine 106 based on current grid demand and / or based on weather conditions, since the gas turbine output may be consumed in whole or in part by the flexible farm demand (which may decrease, increase, or be shut off within milliseconds). Additionally, this provides a faster grid response, since adjusting the flexible farm demand by adjusting the operation of the flexible farm skid 124 may occur much faster than ramping up the gas turbine 106. For example, the gas turbine may ramp up between 0% power and about 100% power at a power ramp rate of between about 1% / min and about 15% / min (or between about 8% / min and about 12% / min, or between about 5% / min and about 10% / min, etc.). Alternatively, the gas turbine may ramp between 0% power and about 100% power at a power ramp rate of between about 10 MW per minute (e.g., MW / min) and about 60 MW per minute. In other embodiments, the power ramp rate may be between about 10 MW / min and about 40 MW / min. In some embodiments, the power ramp rate may be between about 10 MW / min and about 30 MW / min, between about 8% (MW / min) and about 12% (MW / min) for gas turbines, or between about 20% (MW / min) and about 50% (MW / min) for air-reduced gas turbines. In many embodiments, the gas turbine 106 may include a maximum rated power output (e.g., a maximum power output of the gas turbine in MW / min), and the power ramp rate of the gas turbine may be between about 8% / min of the maximum rated power output and about 12% / min of the maximum rated power output.

[0053] The flexible farm demand, which can be scaled as needed depending on how many computing units are running, can be between about 1 MW and about 50 MW (or between about 10 MW and about 30 MW, etc.). The flexible farm demand can be adjusted (e.g., increased, decreased, or eliminated) within about 0.001 seconds to about 5 seconds by adjusting the number of computing units running.

[0054] In many embodiments, the one or more generators 104 may collectively generate a total plant power. For example, the gas turbine 106 may generate a gas turbine output 140, the steam turbine 108 may generate a steam turbine output 142, and the renewable generator 110 may generate a renewable power output 144. The gas turbine power output 140, the steam turbine power output 142, and the renewable power output 144 may collectively form the total plant power 102. The total plant power may be provided (e.g., via one or more transmission lines, distribution equipment, etc.) to each of the auxiliary equipment, the flexible farm skid, and the power grid to meet their respective power demands.

[0055] For example, in many embodiments, a first portion 148 of the total plant power 102 may be provided to one or more auxiliaries 122 to meet an auxiliary demand 149. Additionally, a second portion 150 of the total plant power 102 may be provided to a flexible firm skid 124 to meet a flexible firm demand 151. A third portion 156 of the total plant power 102 may be provided to a power grid 105 external to the power plant 100 (e.g., via transmission line 14) to meet a grid demand 153. Notably, the arrows connecting the total plant power 102 to one of the auxiliaries 122, the power grid 105, or the flexible firm skid 124 may represent both the power provided to those systems and the power demand of those systems (these values ​​are equal because the power demand is the power consumed during operation of the system).

[0056] The flexible farm skid 124 may further include a backup power source 170 electrically connected to the containerized demand sink 126 and the one or more generators 104. The backup power source 170 may not be electrically connected to the power grid 105 such that the backup power source does not generate power utilized by the power grid 105. Rather, the backup power source may selectively generate power that may be utilized by the containerized demand sink 126 and / or by the one or more generators (e.g., for starting the gas turbine 106). The power output of the backup power source 170 may only be capable of generating a small portion of the power output as the one or more generators 104 (e.g., between about 5% to about 20% of the power output of the one or more generators 104). The backup power source 170 may be an industrial diesel generator, natural gas generator, hydrogen generator, battery bank or other power generator or power storage device.

[0057] For example, in many embodiments, an electric motor (EM) 172 may be coupled to the shaft 50 of the gas turbine 108 such that operation of the electric motor 172 rotates the shaft 50 of the gas turbine 108. In an exemplary embodiment, the motor 172 may be integrated with the generator 35 (or may be the generator 35 operated in a particular manner). For example, the generator 35 may be powered by a power source to operate in reverse (i.e., as a motor), thereby forcing the shaft 50 of the gas turbine 106 to rotate. That is, the generator 35 (and / or the motor 172) may be electrically coupled to the backup power source 170 (e.g., via one or more power lines or wires). To start the gas turbine 108 with the assistance of the backup power source 170, the backup power source may provide generator output to the generator 35 (and / or the motor 172), which may rotate the shaft 50 and initiate combustion in the combustion section 31.

[0058] In the exemplary embodiment, the gas turbine 106 may include a fuel supply system 174, which may be fluidly coupled to one or more combustors 30 in the combustion section 31 of the gas turbine 106. The fuel supply system 174 may include one or more storage tanks, supply lines, valves, and / or pumps to supply fuel to the combustion section 31 of the gas turbine 106. In many embodiments, a backup power source 170 may also be fluidly coupled to the fuel supply system 174, which may be configured to supply fuel to one (or both) of the backup power source 170 and the one or more combustors 30. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the backup power source 170 may be fluidly coupled to a stand-alone fuel supply 176 of the flexible farm skid 124.

[0059] 3-5 each depict a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method 300, 400, 500 of operating a power plant in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. Generally, the methods 300, 400, 500 are described herein with reference to the power system 10 and power plant 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed methods 300, 400, 500 may generally be utilized with any suitable power plant or power system and / or may be utilized in conjunction with a system having any other suitable system configuration. In addition, while each of FIGS. 3-5 depicts steps performed in a particular order for purposes of explanation and discussion, the methods discussed herein are not limited to a particular order or arrangement unless otherwise specified in the claims. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that, using the disclosure provided herein, various steps of the methods disclosed herein may be omitted, rearranged, combined, and / or adapted in various ways without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Dashed boxes indicate any steps of the methods 300, 400, 500.

[0060] With specific reference to FIG. 3, in an exemplary embodiment, the method 300 may include generating total plant power at (302) using one or more generators. The one or more generators may include thermal generators (such as gas turbines and / or steam turbines) and / or renewable generators (such as wind turbines and / or solar panels). The generators may collectively generate the total plant power. However, in some implementations, only a single generator (such as a gas turbine) may generate the total plant power. For example, the generation at (302) may further include generating a renewable power output forming a portion of the total plant power at (304) using a renewable generator. This may include harvesting wind energy with a wind turbine or harvesting solar energy with a solar panel. Additionally, as shown, the generation at (302) may further include operating the power plant (e.g., gas turbine) at baseload conditions to generate a baseload power output at (306). The power plant may operate within a maximum efficiency range at the baseload conditions (at which the baseload power output is generated). Starting / stopping a gas turbine, operating below baseload conditions (e.g., producing less than a baseload power output), and / or operating above baseload conditions (e.g., producing more than a baseload power output) can cause the power plant to fall outside of its maximum efficiency range. The maximum efficiency range may correspond to the most fuel-efficient (and / or cost-effective) operation of the gas turbine (and / or the power plant as a whole). Operating a power plant within its maximum efficiency range results in the highest ratio of energy produced to energy consumed possible for the gas turbine. Additionally, baseload operation of a power plant produces fewer emissions per unit of electricity generated.

[0061] In many embodiments, the method 300 may include, at (308), providing a first portion of the total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to satisfy auxiliary demands. The auxiliary demands may be generated through the operation of one or more auxiliary devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more auxiliary devices are thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more generators. The auxiliary devices may support the operation of the one or more generators. For example, in an embodiment in which the one or more generators include a gas turbine, the auxiliary devices may include a starting system (such as an electric motor that rotates a shaft), a fuel system, an ignition system, an air intake system, a lube oil pump, a compressor / turbine wash system, a cooling system, or other systems related to (and / or required for) the operation of the gas turbine. The auxiliary owner demands refer to the power required to operate various auxiliary devices in the power plant.

[0062] In some embodiments, the method may include generating (310) a flexible farm demand that is between about 1% and about 50% of the baseload output of the power plant to maintain a maximum efficiency range. In other embodiments, the flexible farm demand is between about 10% and about 30% of the baseload output. The flexible farm demand may be generated by operating a flexible farm skid. Additionally, the flexible farm demand may be modified, expanded, or adjusted based on the power output of other generators and / or based on current grid demand. For example, if grid demand increases (e.g., above a predetermined threshold), the flexible farm demand may be decreased (e.g., by an equal amount or only a portion of the increase in grid demand). As another example, if the output of the renewable generator is adjusted (e.g., increased or decreased) due to changes in weather or other factors, the flexible farm demand may be adjusted by the same amount so that the operation of the power plant (e.g., gas turbine) does not need to be changed (e.g., ramped up or down) from the baseload condition.

[0063] In various embodiments, the method 300 may further include, at 312, adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid to adjust the flexible farm demand when the total power output of the power plant exceeds the sum of the grid demand and the auxiliary demand to maintain operation of the power plant at a baseload condition. For example, if there is a change in weather conditions such that the renewable generators produce increased output, the flexible farm demand may be increased such that the total power output does not exceed the sum of the grid demand and the auxiliary demand.

[0064] In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include supplying (314) a second portion of the total plant power to a flexible farm skid disposed within the power plant to meet the flexible farm demand. The flexible farm skid may generate the flexible farm demand through operation of the flexible farm skid. The flexible farm skid may not be mechanically, thermally, or fluidically coupled to the one or more generators. That is, the flexible farm skid may operate independently from the one or more generators, but the flexible farm skid may be powered by electrical energy generated by the one or more generators. In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible farm skid may include one or more containerized demand sinks having computing units (e.g., multiple computing units). The computing units (e.g., cryptocurrency machines or miners), which may be specialized computing systems configured to perform complex mathematical calculations necessary to verify and secure transactions on a blockchain network, may generate the flexible farm demand. The computing units may function to perform high-load computations such as data mining, graphic rendering, machine learning, cryptocurrency mining, blockchain validation, distributed ledger processing, and / or distributed computation.The computing unit can use secure hashing algorithms such as SHA-0, SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-256 (the most common in the blockchain space and used by most coins, including various cryptocurrencies), as well as SHA-512 (a more complex version of SHA-256 that has greater theoretical security and the ability to withstand brute force attacks), SHA-3, SHA3-256, and SHA3-512.

[0065] In many embodiments, the containerized demand sink may be mobile or easily transportable. For example, the containerized demand sink may be a mobile structure that encloses and houses one or more digital assets. For example, in some embodiments, the housing of the containerized demand sink may be a shipping container, such as an 8' x 8.5' x 10' shipping container (which may be referred to as a "10' shipping container"), or an 8' x 8.5' x 20' shipping container (which may be referred to as a "20' shipping container"), or an 8' x 8.5' x 40' shipping container (which may be referred to as a "40' shipping container"). In such embodiments, the method 300 may include moving the containerized demand sink from a first location to a second location different from the first location. The first location may be within the power plant, and the second location may be a different location within the power plant. In other embodiments, the first location may be within the first power plant, and the second location may be within a second power plant different from the first power plant. In this manner, the containerized demand sinks may be relocated to different locations within the power plant or to other power plants.

[0066] In many embodiments, the method 300 may further include providing a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid outside the power plant at 316 to meet grid demand. Grid demand may vary throughout the day (or throughout the week, or throughout the month), and the flexible farm skid may adjust operation in response to changes in grid demand to allow the power plant to remain in a baseload condition where maximum efficiency occurs. For example, the method may include reducing or eliminating the flexible farm demand by adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid at 320 when the grid demand exceeds a power threshold. For example, in an embodiment where the flexible farm skid includes a computing unit configured to perform heavy load calculations (such as cryptocurrency mining), the method may include shutting off or turning on all or a portion of the computing unit in response to fluctuations in grid demand to adjust the flexible farm demand while maintaining baseload operation of the gas turbine engine.

[0067] In some embodiments, the method 300 may further include adjusting (318) the flexible farm demand based on the magnitude of the renewable power output. For example, the flexible farm demand may be increased or decreased in response to an increase or decrease in the renewable power output. In particular, if the renewable power output increases, the flexible farm demand may also increase. In contrast, if the renewable power output decreases, the flexible farm demand may decrease. Step 318 may be performed while maintaining the gas turbine in a baseload condition, thereby generating a baseload power output of the gas turbine (and / or a baseload power output of the entire power plant). This may maximize the efficiency of the gas turbine while making the total power output robust to weather variations.

[0068] With specific reference to FIG. 4, in an exemplary embodiment, the method 400 may include, at 402, generating total plant power using one or more generators. The one or more generators may include thermal generators (such as gas turbines and / or steam turbines) and / or renewable generators (such as wind turbines and / or solar panels). The generators may collectively generate the total plant power. However, in some implementations, only a single generator (such as a gas turbine) may generate the total power of the plant.

[0069] In many embodiments, the method 400 may include, at 404, providing a first portion of the total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to satisfy an auxiliary demand. The auxiliary demand may be generated through the operation of one or more auxiliary devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more auxiliary devices are thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more generators. The auxiliary devices may support the operation of the one or more generators. For example, in an embodiment in which the one or more generators include a gas turbine, the auxiliary devices may include a starting system (such as an electric motor that rotates a shaft), a fuel system, an ignition system, an air intake system, a compressor wash / turbine wash system, a cooling system, or other systems related to (and / or required for) the operation of the gas turbine. An auxiliary owner demand is the power required to operate various auxiliary devices in a power plant.

[0070] The method 400 may further include, at (406), supplying a second portion of the total plant power to a flexible farm skid disposed within the power plant to satisfy the flexible farm demand. The flexible farm demand may be generated through operation of the flexible farm skid. The flexible farm skid may not be mechanically, thermally, or fluidically coupled to the one or more generators. That is, the flexible farm skid may operate independently from the one or more generators, but the flexible farm skid may be powered by electrical energy generated by the one or more generators. In an exemplary embodiment, the flexible farm skid may include one or more containerized demand sinks having a computing unit (e.g., multiple computing units). The computing units (e.g., cryptocurrency machines or miners) may be specialized computing systems configured to perform complex mathematical calculations necessary to verify and secure transactions on a blockchain network and may generate the flexible farm demand. The computing units may function to perform heavy-duty calculations, such as data mining, graphics rendering, machine learning, cryptocurrency mining, blockchain verification, distributed ledger processing, and / or distributed computing. The computing unit can use secure hashing algorithms such as SHA-0, SHA-1, SHA-2, SHA-256 (the most common in the blockchain space and used by most coins, including various cryptocurrencies), as well as SHA-512 (a more complex version of SHA-256 that has greater theoretical security and the ability to withstand brute force attacks), SHA-3, SHA3-256, and SHA3-512.

[0071] In various embodiments, the method 400 may further include, at 408, supplying a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid outside the power plant to meet grid demand. The grid demand may vary throughout the day (or throughout the week, or throughout the month), and the flexible farm skid may adjust operation in response to the change in grid demand. For example, in many embodiments, the method may include, at 410, receiving an increase in grid demand that exceeds a power ramp rate of the one or more generators. For example, in an embodiment in which the one or more generators include a gas turbine, the gas turbine may ramp between 0% power and about 100% power at a power ramp rate between about 1% / min and about 15% / min. Alternatively, the gas turbine may ramp between 0% power and about 100% power at a power ramp rate between about 10 MW / min and about 30 MW / min, or between about 8% (of rated MW) and about 12% (of rated MW) / min. Thus, receiving at 410 may further include receiving at 412 an increase in grid demand of greater than about 10 megawatts (MW), or greater than about 15 MW, or greater than about 25 MW, or greater than about 30 MW. The increase in grid demand may be due to weather conditions, causing a customer (e.g., customer 16 of FIG. 1 ) to draw more power.

[0072] In an exemplary embodiment, the method 400 may further include, at 414, adjusting the operation of the flexible farm skid to modify the flexible farm demand in response to an increase in grid demand. The flexible farm demand, which may be scaled as needed depending on how many of the computing units are operational, may be between about 1 MW and about 50 MW (or between about 10 MW and about 30 MW, etc.). By adjusting the number of operational computing units, the flexible farm demand may be adjusted (e.g., increased, decreased, or eliminated) within about 0.001 seconds to about 5 seconds. For example, as described above, the flexible farm skid may include a plurality of computing units configured to selectively perform heavy computations (such as cryptocurrency mining or blockchain validation). In such an embodiment, adjusting at 414 may include powering off / on one or more computing units of the plurality of computing units, thereby increasing / decreasing the flexible farm demand.

[0073] In some embodiments, adjusting at (414) can further include reducing flexible farm demand by adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid in response to the increase in grid demand at (416). For example, the flexible farm demand can be reduced by an amount equal to, less than, or greater than the increase in grid demand. In many embodiments, adjusting at (414) can include reducing the flexible farm demand by an amount approximately equal (e.g., within ±5%) to the increase in grid demand adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid in response to the increase in grid demand at (418). In another embodiment, adjusting at (414) can include eliminating flexible farm demand by shutting off operation of the flexible farm skid in response to the increase in grid demand at (420). For example, in an embodiment where the flexible farm skid includes multiple computing units, eliminating at (420) can include shutting off all computing units simultaneously or nearly simultaneously to completely eliminate the flexible farm demand.

[0074] In some embodiments, the method 400 may include generating a flexible farm demand that is between about 1% and about 50% of the baseload output of the power plant to maintain a maximum efficiency range. In other embodiments, the flexible farm demand may be between about 10% and about 30% of the baseload output. The flexible farm demand may be generated by operating a flexible farm skid. Additionally, the flexible farm demand may be modified, expanded, or adjusted based on the power generation output of other generators and / or based on current grid demand. For example, if grid demand increases (e.g., above a predetermined threshold), the flexible farm demand may be decreased (e.g., an amount equal to the increased amount of grid demand, or only a portion of it). As another example, if the output of the renewable energy generator is adjusted (e.g., increased or decreased) due to changes in weather or other factors, the flexible farm demand may also be adjusted by the same amount so that the operation of the gas turbine does not need to be changed (e.g., ramped up or down) from the baseload condition.

[0075] In many embodiments, the method 400 may further include reducing (422) the flexible farm demand in response to the increased grid demand to maintain a baseload condition of the power plant and accommodate the increased grid demand. For example, the power plant (e.g., gas turbines and / or other generators) may be supported in a baseload condition by a flexible farm skid. That is, all or a portion of the baseload power output of the power plant may be consumed by the flexible farm skid. In this manner, reducing the flexible farm demand in response to the increased grid demand may prevent the power plant (e.g., gas turbines and / or other generators) from correcting or deviating from a baseload condition, thereby maintaining a maximum efficiency range of the power plant, including the gas turbines and other generators.

[0076] With specific reference to FIG. 5, in an exemplary embodiment, the method 500 may include, at (502), generating total plant power with one or more generators. The one or more generators may include thermal generators (such as gas turbines and / or steam turbines) and / or renewable generators (such as wind turbines and / or solar panels). The generators may collectively generate the total plant power. However, in some implementations, only a single generator (such as a gas turbine) may generate the total power of the plant. The one or more generators may be electrically connected to a power grid to supply power to the power grid.

[0077] In addition to the generators, the power plant may further include a backup power source that is not electrically coupled to the power grid but is electrically coupled to the flexible farm skid and the one or more generators. The backup power source may be a backup generator (such as a gas generator, diesel generator, or other generator that converts fuel to energy) or an energy storage system (such as a battery bank). The method may include, at 504, providing a backup power output by the backup power source. In some embodiments where the backup power source is a backup generator (such as a diesel generator, gas generator, or other generator), the method may include generating a backup power output by operating the backup generator. The backup power output may not be provided outside the power plant (e.g., to the power grid), and the power output of the backup power source may only be capable of outputting a small portion of the power output as the one or more generators (e.g., between about 5% and about 20% of the power output of the one or more generators). In some embodiments, the backup power source may be an industrial diesel generator, natural gas generator, hydrogen generator, or other generator. In other embodiments, the backup power source may be an energy storage system, such as a bank of batteries or other large-scale (eg, 10-50 MW) energy storage system.

[0078] In many embodiments, the method 500 may include starting one or more generator gas turbines with the backup power output at (506). For example, an electric motor may be coupled to a shaft of the gas turbine (such that operation of the electric motor rotates the shaft of the gas turbine) and the electric motor may be electrically connected to the backup power source. In such an embodiment, the method 500 may include providing the backup power output to an electric motor coupled to the shaft of the gas turbine at (508). The method 500 may further include rotating the shaft of the gas turbine with the electric motor at (510) and initiating combustion in a combustion section of the gas turbine at (512). Initiating combustion may include supplying fuel / air to one or more combustors and igniting the fuel with an ignition source (such as a spark plug or torch igniter).

[0079] In an exemplary embodiment, the method 500 may further include, at (514), providing a first portion of the total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to satisfy auxiliary demands. The auxiliary demands may be generated through the operation of one or more auxiliary devices. In an exemplary embodiment, the one or more auxiliary devices are thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more generators. The auxiliary devices may support the operation of the one or more generators. For example, in an embodiment in which the one or more generators include a gas turbine, the auxiliary devices may include a starting system (such as an electric motor that rotates a shaft), a fuel system, an ignition system, an air intake system, a compressor / turbine wash system, a pump system, a cooling system, or other systems related to (and / or required for) the operation of the gas turbine. The auxiliary owner demands refer to the power required to operate various auxiliary devices in the power plant.

[0080] The method 500 may further include providing at least one of the second portion of the total plant power and the backup power output to the flexible farm skid to meet the flexible farm demand at (516). For example, the flexible farm demand may be met in whole or in part by the backup power output. In many embodiments, the flexible farm demand may be met by both the portion of the total plant power and the backup power output. For example, in such embodiments, the method 500 may include providing at (518) both the second portion of the total plant power and the backup power output to the flexible farm skid to meet the flexible farm demand. The ratio of the second portion of the total power and the backup power output provided to the flexible farm skid to meet the flexible farm skid may be selectively varied. In some embodiments, the method 500 may further include adjusting at (520) the ratio of the second portion of the total plant power and the backup power output based on the magnitude of the grid demand provided to the flexible farm skid. For example, when grid demand is large (e.g., greater than a first predetermined power threshold), the flexible farm skid may be fully powered by the backup power output. In another example, when grid demand is less than the first predetermined power threshold but greater than a second predetermined power threshold, the flexible farm skid may be powered by both the backup power output and a second portion of the total power output. In yet another example, when grid demand is less than both the first predetermined power threshold and the second predetermined power threshold, the flexible farm skid may be fully powered by the backup power output.

[0081] In an example embodiment, the method 500 may further include, at 522, supplying a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid outside the power plant to meet grid demand. Grid demand may vary throughout the day (or throughout the week, or throughout the month), and the flexible farm skid may adjust operation in response to changes in grid demand, allowing the power plant to remain at a baseload condition where maximum efficiency occurs.

[0082] 6 provides a block diagram of an exemplary computing system 600. The computing system 600 may be used to implement aspects disclosed herein. The computing system 600 may include one or more computing devices 602. Each of the controllers 22, 23, 40, 116, 118, 120, 125 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 may be configured similarly to, and operate in the same or similar manner as, for example, one of the computing devices 602.

[0083] 6, the one or more computing devices 602 may each include one or more processors 604 and one or more memory devices 606. The one or more processors 604 may include any suitable processing device, such as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an integrated circuit, a logic device, or other suitable processing device. The one or more memory devices 606 may include one or more computer readable media, including but not limited to non-transitory computer readable media or media, RAM, ROM, hard drives, flash drives, and other memory devices, such as one or more buffer devices.

[0084] The one or more memory devices 606 may store information accessible by the one or more processors 604, including computer-readable or computer-executable instructions 608 executable by the one or more processors 604. The instructions 608 may be any set of instructions or control logic that, when executed by the one or more processors 604, causes the one or more processors 604 to perform an operation. The instructions 608 may be software written in any suitable programming language or may be implemented in hardware. In some embodiments, the instructions 608 are executed by the one or more processors 604 to cause the one or more processors 604 to perform an operation.

[0085] The memory device 606 may further store data 610 accessible by the processor 604. For example, the data 610 may include sensor data, such as engine parameters, model data, logic data, etc., as described herein. The data 610 may include one or more tables, one or more functions, one or more algorithms, one or more models, one or more equations, etc., according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0086] The one or more computing devices 602 may also include a communication interface 612 used to communicate, for example, with other components of the power plant 100 or other controllers. The communication interface 612 may include any suitable components for interfacing with one or more networks, including, for example, transmitters, receivers, ports, controllers, antennas, or other suitable components.

[0087] The technology described herein refers to computer-based systems, and actions performed by the computer-based systems, and information sent to and from the computer-based systems. It will be appreciated that the inherent flexibility of computer-based systems allows for a wide variety of possible configurations, combinations, and divisions of tasks and functions between and among components. For example, the processes discussed herein may be implemented using a single computing device or multiple computing devices working in combination. Databases, memories, instructions, and applications may be implemented in a single system or distributed across multiple systems.

[0088] Specific features of various embodiments may be shown in some drawings and not in others for convenience, and in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, any feature of a drawing may be referenced and / or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.

[0089] This specification uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems, and performing the incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they contain structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they contain equivalent structural elements that do not differ insubstantially from the literal language of the claims.

[0090] Further aspects of the invention are provided by the subject matter of the following clauses. [Embodiment 1] 1. A method of operating a power plant, comprising: generating, with one or more power generators, a total plant power; providing a first portion of the total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to meet an auxiliary demand, the auxiliary demand being generated through operation of the one or more auxiliary devices, the one or more auxiliary devices being one of thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more power generators; providing a second portion of the total plant power to a flexible firm skid disposed within the power plant to meet a flexible firm demand, the flexible firm demand being generated through operation of the flexible firm skid; providing a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid outside of the power plant to meet a grid demand. [Embodiment 2] 13. The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the flexible firm skid is not mechanically, thermally, or fluidly coupled to the one or more power generators. [Embodiment 3] 13. The method of any preceding embodiment, further comprising: the power plant operates within a maximum efficiency range at base load conditions, the power plant generates a base load power output at the base load conditions, and the method further comprises: generating a flexible firm demand that is between about 1% and about 50% of the base load power output of the power plant to maintain the maximum efficiency range. [Embodiment 4] 2. The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the flexible firm skid includes a containerized demand sink having a digital asset disposed within a housing. [Embodiment 5] 11. The method of any preceding embodiment, further comprising: moving the containerized demand sink from a first location to a second location that is different than the first location. [Embodiment 6] 2. The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the digital asset comprises at least one of data centers, digital factory equipment, and computing units. [Embodiment 7] 13. The method of any preceding embodiment, further comprising operating the containerized demand sink within a proximity of about 0 meters and about 500 meters of the one or more power generators. [Embodiment 8] The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more power generators includes a renewable power generator, the method further comprising generating, with the renewable power generator, a renewable power output that forms a portion of the total plant power, and adjusting the flexible firm demand based on a magnitude of the renewable power output. [Embodiment 9] 11. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the power plant operates within a maximum efficiency range at base load conditions, the method further comprising: operating the power plant at base load conditions; and adjusting an operation of the flexible firm skid to adjust the flexible firm demand when the total plant power exceeds a sum of the grid demand and the auxiliary demand to maintain operation of the power plant at base load conditions. [Embodiment 10] 11. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the method further comprises decreasing or eliminating the flexible firm demand by adjusting an operation of the flexible firm skid when the grid demand exceeds a power threshold. [Embodiment 11] 1. A power generation plant comprising: one or more power generators; one or more auxiliary devices mechanically, thermally, or fluidly coupled to the one or more power generators and disposed within the power plant, the one or more auxiliary devices configured to generate an auxiliary demand; a flexible firm skid disposed within the power plant, the flexible firm skid configured to generate a flexible firm demand; a controller operably connected to the one or more power generators, the one or more auxiliary devices, and the flexible firm skid; Including, the controller including memory and one or more processors; The memory, when executed by the one or more processors, generating, with one or more power generators, a total plant power; providing a first portion of the total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to meet an auxiliary demand, the auxiliary demand being generated through operation of the one or more auxiliary devices, the one or more auxiliary devices being one of thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more power generators; providing a second portion of the total plant power to a flexible firm skid disposed within the power plant to meet an flexible firm demand, the flexible firm demand being generated through operation of the flexible firm skid; providing a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid outside of the power plant; 11. The power plant of claim 10, further comprising: [Embodiment 12] 11. The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein the flexible farm skid is not mechanically, thermally, or fluidly coupled to the one or more generators. [Embodiment 13] The power plant of any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising: the power plant being operated within a maximum efficiency range at a baseload condition, the power plant generating a baseload output at the baseload condition, and the one or more operations generating a flexible farm demand that is between about 1% and about 50% of the baseload output of the power plant to maintain a maximum efficiency range. [Embodiment 14] 13. The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein the flexible farm skid includes a containerized demand sink having digital assets disposed within a housing. [Embodiment 15] 2. The power plant of claim 1, wherein the digital assets include at least one of a data center, a digital factory facility, and a computing unit. [Embodiment 16] 4. The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein the containerized demand sink is located within a proximity range of about 0 meters to about 500 meters from the one or more generators. [Embodiment 17] A power plant as described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more generators include a renewable generator, and the one or more operations further include generating a renewable power generation output using the renewable generator, the renewable power generation output forming a portion of the total plant power, and adjusting the flexible farm demand based on a magnitude of the renewable power generation output. [Embodiment 18] The power plant of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the power plant operates within a maximum efficiency range at a baseload condition, and the one or more operations further include operating the power plant at the baseload condition to generate a baseload power output, and adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid to adjust flexible farm demand when the total plant power exceeds the sum of the grid demand and the auxiliary demand to maintain operation of the power plant at the baseload condition. [Embodiment 19] The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein the one or more operations include reducing or eliminating flexible farm demand by adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid when the grid demand exceeds a power threshold. [Embodiment 20] 1. A method of operating a power plant, comprising: generating, with one or more power generators, a total plant power; providing a first portion of the total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to meet an auxiliary demand, the auxiliary demand being generated through operation of the one or more auxiliary devices, the one or more auxiliary devices being one of thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more power generators; providing a second portion of the total plant power to a flexible firm skid disposed within the power plant to meet a flexible firm demand, the flexible firm demand being generated through operation of the flexible firm skid; providing a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid outside of the power plant to meet a grid demand; receiving an increase in the grid demand that exceeds a power ramp rate of the one or more power generators; and adjusting an operation of the flexible firm skid to modify the flexible firm demand in response to the increase in the grid demand. [Embodiment 21] 13. The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the step of receiving an increase in grid demand further comprises receiving an increase in grid demand of greater than about 10 megawatts (MW). [Embodiment 22] The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the one or more generators include a gas turbine, and a power ramp rate of the gas turbine is between about 10 megawatts per minute (MW / min) and about 60 MW / min. [Embodiment 23] 11. The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the one or more generators comprise a gas turbine having a maximum rated power output, and a power ramp rate of the gas turbine is between about 8% per minute of maximum rated power output and about 12% per minute of maximum rated power output. [Embodiment 24] 11. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid further comprises reducing the flexible farm demand by adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid in response to an increase in the grid demand. [Embodiment 25] 11. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid further comprises, in response to an increase in grid demand, reducing flexible farm demand by an amount approximately equal to the increase in grid demand and adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid. [Embodiment 26] 11. The method of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid further comprises eliminating the flexible farm demand by shutting down the flexible farm skid in response to an increase in the grid demand. [Embodiment 27] The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the power plant operates within a maximum efficiency range at a baseload condition, the power plant generating a baseload output at the baseload condition, and the method further comprises generating a flexible farm demand that is between about 1% and about 50% of the baseload output of the power plant to maintain a maximum efficiency range. [Embodiment 28] 13. The method of any preceding embodiment, further comprising: curtailing the flexible farm demand in response to an increase in the grid demand to maintain a baseload condition of the power plant and accommodate the increase in the grid demand. [Embodiment 29] 13. The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the flexible farm skid comprises a containerized demand sink having digital assets disposed within a housing. [Embodiment 30] 1. A power generation plant comprising: one or more thermal power generators; one or more auxiliary devices mechanically, thermally, or fluidly coupled to the one or more thermal generators, the one or more auxiliary devices configured to generate auxiliary demand; a flexible farm skid disposed within the power plant, the flexible farm skid configured to generate flexible farm demand; and a controller operatively connected to the one or more thermal generators, the one or more auxiliary devices, and the flexible farm skid; Including, the controller includes a memory and one or more processors, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the power plant to perform one or more operations; The one or more actions include: generating total plant power using the one or more generators; supplying a first portion of the total plant power to the one or more auxiliary devices to meet an auxiliary demand; supplying a second portion of the total plant power to the flexible farm skid located within the power plant to meet flexible farm demand; supplying a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid external to the power plant to meet a grid demand; receiving an increase in grid demand that exceeds a power ramp rate of the one or more generators; adjusting operation of a flexible farm skid to modify flexible farm demand in response to an increase in the grid demand; , including, power generation plants. [Embodiment 31] 11. The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein upon receiving the increase in grid demand, the one or more operations further include receiving an increase in grid demand of greater than about 10 megawatts (MW). [Embodiment 32] 4. The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein the one or more generators include a gas turbine, and wherein the gas turbine has a power ramp rate of between about 10 megawatts per minute (MW / min) and about 60 MW / min. [Embodiment 33] The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein when adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid, the one or more operations further include reducing flexible farm demand by adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid in response to an increase in grid demand. [Embodiment 34] A power plant as described in any of the preceding embodiments, wherein in adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid, the one or more operations further include reducing demand on the flexible farm skid by an amount approximately equal to an increase in grid demand to adjust operation of the flexible farm skid in response to an increase in grid demand. [Embodiment 35] A power plant as described in any preceding embodiment, wherein when adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid, the one or more operations further include a step of eliminating the flexible farm demand by shutting down operation of the flexible farm skid in response to an increase in the grid demand. [Embodiment 36] The power plant of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the power plant is operated within a maximum efficiency range under baseload conditions, the power plant generating a baseload output under baseload conditions, and the one or more operations include generating a flexible farm demand that is between about 1% and about 50% of the baseload output of the power plant to maintain a maximum efficiency range. [Embodiment 37] 13. The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein the flexible farm skid includes a containerized demand sink having digital assets disposed within a housing. [Embodiment 38] 2. The power plant of claim 1, wherein the digital assets include at least one of a data center, a digital factory facility, and a computing unit. [Embodiment 39] 4. The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein the containerized demand sink is located within a proximity range of about 0 meters to about 500 meters of the one or more thermal generators. [Embodiment 40] 1. A method of operating a power plant, comprising: generating, with the one or more power generators, a total plant power; supplying, with a back up power source, a backup power output; providing a first portion of the total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to meet an auxiliary demand, the auxiliary demand being generated through operation of the one or more auxiliary devices, the one or more auxiliary devices being one of thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more power generators; providing at least one of a second portion of the total plant power and the backup power output to the flexible firm skid to meet the flexible firm demand, the flexible firm demand being generated through operation of the flexible firm skid; providing a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid outside of the power plant to meet a grid demand. [Embodiment 41] The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein providing at least one of the second portion and the backup power output further comprises providing both the second portion of the total plant power and the backup power output to the flexible farm skid to meet the flexible farm demand. [Embodiment 42] 11. The method of any preceding embodiment, further comprising adjusting a ratio of the second portion of the total plant power supplied to the flexible farm skid and the backup power output supplied to the flexible farm skid based on a magnitude of grid demand. [Embodiment 43] 13. The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the one or more generators include a gas turbine, the method further comprising at least partially starting the gas turbine with the backup power output. [Embodiment 44] 20. The method of claim 1, wherein at least partially starting the gas turbine with the backup power output further comprises: supplying the backup power output to an electric motor coupled to a shaft of the gas turbine; rotating the shaft with the electric motor; and initiating combustion in a combustion section of the gas turbine. [Embodiment 45] 13. The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the combustion section of the gas turbine is fluidly coupled to a fuel source and the backup power source is fluidly coupled to the fuel source. [Embodiment 46] 11. The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the flexible farm skid includes a containerized demand sink having digital assets disposed within a housing, the digital assets including at least one of a data center, a digital factory equipment, and a computing unit. [Embodiment 47] 13. The method of any preceding embodiment, wherein the containerized demand sink is located within a proximity range of about 0 meters to about 500 meters of the gas turbine. [Embodiment 48] 1. A power generation plant comprising: one or more power generators electrically connected to a power grid; one or more auxiliary devices that is at least one of mechanically, thermally, or fluidly coupled to the one or more power generators, the one or more auxiliary devices configured to generate an auxiliary demand; a flexible firm skid disposed within the power plant, the flexible firm skid including a containerized demand sink and a back up power source electrically connected to the containerized demand sink and the one or more power generators, the flexible firm skid configured to generate a flexible firm demand; a controller operably connected to the gas turbine and the flexible firm skid; and Including, the controller including memory and one or more processors; the memory storing instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the power plant to perform one or more operations; The one or more actions include: generating, with the one or more power generators, a total plant power; supplying, with the back up power source, a backup power output; providing a first portion of the total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to meet an auxiliary demand, the auxiliary demand being generated through operation of the one or more auxiliary devices, the one or more auxiliary devices being one of thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more power generators; providing at least one of a second portion of the total plant power and the backup power output to the flexible firm skid to meet the flexible firm demand, the flexible firm demand being generated through operation of the flexible firm skid; providing a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid outside of the power plant to meet a grid demand. [Embodiment 49] The power plant of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more generators include a gas turbine, and the one or more operations further include at least partially starting the gas turbine with the backup power output. [Embodiment 50] The power plant of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein, in starting the gas turbine at least partially with the backup power output, the one or more operations further include: supplying the backup power output to an electric motor coupled to a shaft of the gas turbine, rotating the shaft with the electric motor, and initiating combustion in a combustion section of the gas turbine. [Embodiment 51] 4. The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein the combustion section of the gas turbine is fluidly coupled to a fuel supply system, and the back-up power source is fluidly coupled to the fuel supply system. [Embodiment 52] 13. The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein the backup power source is fluidly coupled to a stand-alone fuel supply. [Embodiment 53] 13. The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein the flexible farm skid includes a containerized demand sink having digital assets disposed within a housing. [Embodiment 54] 2. The power plant of claim 1, wherein the digital assets include at least one of a data center, a digital factory facility, and a computing unit. [Embodiment 55] 4. The power plant of any preceding embodiment, wherein the containerized demand sink is located within a proximity range of about 0 meters to about 500 meters of the gas turbine. [Embodiment 56] A power plant as described in any preceding embodiment, wherein in providing at least one of the second portion and the backup power output, the one or more operations further include providing both the second portion of the total plant power and the backup power output to the flexible farm skid to meet flexible farm demand. [Embodiment 57] The power plant of any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the one or more operations include adjusting a ratio of the second portion of the total plant power supplied to the flexible farm skid and the backup power output supplied to the flexible farm skid based on a magnitude of grid demand. [Explanation of symbols]

[0091] 10:Power system 11:Thermal power generator 12:Power plant 13:Renewable power generator 14:Power transmission line 16:Load / customer 20:Communication network 21:Data resource / data library 22:Plant controller 23:Load controller 24:Central authority / dispatch authority / central agency / dispatch agency 28:Compressor 29:Turbine section / turbine 30:Combustor 35:Generator 40:Plant controller 44:User device 50:Shaft 56:Sensor 57:Actuator 100:Power plant 102:Total plant power 104:Generator 105:Power grid 106:Gas turbine 108:Steam turbine 110:Renewable power generator 112:Wind power unit 114:Photovoltaic power generator 116:Gas turbine controller 118:Steam turbine controller 120:Renewable unit controller 122:Auxiliary equipment 124:Flexible farm skid 125:Flexible farm skid controller 126:Containerized demand sink 128:Digital asset 130:Housing 132:Data center 134:Digital factory equipment 136:Computing unit 140:Gas turbine output 142:Steam turbine output 144:Renewable energy output 148:First part 149:Auxiliary demand 150:Second part 151:Flexible farm demand 153:Grid demand 156:Third part 160:Exhaust gas 162:Heat recovery steam generator / HRSG 164:Steam 166:Shaft 168:Generator 170:Back-up power 172:Electric motor / EM 174:Fuel supply system 176:Standalone fuel supply 600:Computing system 602:Computing device 604:Processor 606:Memory device 608:Instructions 610:Data 612: Communication interface

Claims

1. 1. A method of operating a power plant, comprising: generating total plant power with one or more generators; supplying a first portion of total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to meet an auxiliary demand, the auxiliary demand being generated by operation of the one or more auxiliary devices, the one or more auxiliary devices being thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more generators; supplying a second portion of the total plant power to a flexible farm skid disposed within the power plant to meet a flexible farm demand, the flexible farm demand being generated by operation of the flexible farm skid; and supplying a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid outside the power plant to meet grid demand.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flexible farm skid is not mechanically, thermally, or fluidly coupled to the one or more generators.

3. The power plant operates within a maximum efficiency range at baseload conditions, and the power plant produces baseload output at baseload conditions; The method further comprises: The method of claim 1 , comprising generating flexible farm demand between about 1% and about 50% of a baseload output of a power plant to maintain a maximum efficiency range.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the flexible farm skid includes a containerized demand sink having digital assets disposed within a housing.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising moving the containerized demand sink from a first location to a second location different from the first location.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the digital assets include at least one of a data center, a digital factory facility, and a computing unit.

7. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising operating the containerized demand sink within a range of about 0 meters to about 500 meters from the one or more generators.

8. the one or more generators include a renewable generator; The method further includes: generating, by a renewable generator, a renewable power output that constitutes a portion of the total plant power; and adjusting the flexible farm demand based on the magnitude of the renewable energy output.

9. The power plant is operated under baseload conditions within its maximum efficiency range, The method further includes: operating the power plant under base load conditions; and adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid to adjust the flexible farm demand to maintain operation of the power plant in a baseload condition when total power of the power plant exceeds the sum of grid demand and auxiliary demand.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising reducing or eliminating flexible farm demand by adjusting operation of the flexible farm skid when grid demand exceeds a power threshold.

11. 1. A power generation plant comprising: one or more generators; one or more auxiliary devices mechanically, thermally, or fluidly coupled to the one or more generators and disposed within the power plant and configured to generate an auxiliary demand; a flexible farm skid disposed within the power plant and configured to generate flexible farm demand; a controller operably connected to the one or more generators, the one or more auxiliary devices, and the flexible farm skid; Including, The controller includes a memory and one or more processors. The memory stores instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the power plant to perform one or more operations; The one or more actions include: generating total plant power with one or more generators; supplying a first portion of total plant power to one or more auxiliary devices to meet an auxiliary demand, the auxiliary demand being generated by operation of the one or more auxiliary devices, the one or more auxiliary devices being thermally, fluidly, or mechanically coupled to the one or more generators; supplying a second portion of the total plant power to a flexible farm skid disposed within the power plant to meet flexible farm demand; and supplying a third portion of the total plant power to a power grid external to the power plant.

12. The power plant of claim 11 , wherein the flexible farm skid is not mechanically, thermally, or fluidly coupled to the one or more generators.

13. The power plant is operated within its maximum efficiency range under baseload conditions; The power plant generates baseload output under baseload conditions; The one or more operations may further include: The power plant of claim 11 , comprising generating a flexible farm demand of between about 1% and about 50% of a baseload output of the power plant to maintain a maximum efficiency range.

14. The power plant of claim 11 , wherein the flexible farm skid includes a containerized demand sink having digital assets disposed within a housing.

15. The power plant of claim 14 , wherein the digital assets include at least one of a data center, a digital factory facility, and a computing unit.

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