Simple Cycle
A combustion gas turbine is a rotary engine that extracts energy from a flow of combustion gas. It has an upstream compressor coupled to a downstream turbine, and a combustion chamber in-between. Energy is added in the combustor, where fuel is mixed with air and ignited. Combustion increases the temperature, velocity and volume of the gas flow. This is directed through a nozzle over the turbine's blades, spinning the turbine and powering the compressor. Energy is extracted in the form of shaft power which is used to drive an electric generator.

Combined Cycle
A combined cycle is a power producing engine or plant that employs more than one thermodynamic cycle. Gas turbine engines are only able to use a portion of the energy their fuel generates. The remaining heat from combustion is generally wasted. Combining two or more "cycles", such as the Brayton cycle (gas turbine) and Rankine cycle (steam turbine, condenser, cooling tower), results in improved overall efficiency. In a combined cycle power plant, a gas turbine generator generates electricity and the exhaust, waste heat is used to make steam to generate additional electricity using a steam turbine; this last step enhances the efficiency of electricity generation.

Simplified Combined Cycle (SCC)
SCC technology similarly captures combustion gas turbine waste heat and turns it into steam, creating additional power without the need for a steam turbine, condenser or cooling tower. Like the combined cycle, capturing this waste heat results in increased production of kWh without additional fuel being burned. Because injected steam cools the combustor's hot gases, it is possible to burn additional fuel and stay in compliance with the thermal limits of the engine. The result is increased capacity and improved efficiency.

SCC achieves emissions improvements by pre-mixing steam and fuel before injection into the combustor. The result is a smaller, cooler flame which reduces NO_x. NO_x of less than 5 ppmvd has been achieved in the field, while in atmospheric rig tests NO_x levels of less than 2 ppmvd have been achieved.

The low NO_x levels are achieved because CO stays below 10 ppmvd, while steam injection is increased to levels not achievable without a very homogeneous mixture of steam and fuel. The ability to produce the NO_x and CO allows greater turndown while maintaining compliance.

Usually, SCC reduces the turbine inlet temperature and extends the hot gas path time between overhaul by at least fifty percent.

Faster start requiring less fuel is possible because steam can be injected in the gas turbine as quickly as it is produced, avoiding steam turbine warm-up requirements.