| CPC F02C 9/18 (2013.01) [F01K 23/10 (2013.01); F02C 7/141 (2013.01); F02C 9/26 (2013.01)] | 15 Claims |

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1. A method of operating a gas turbine engine during a period of turndown, the method comprising:
continuously decreasing a load of the gas turbine engine below a base load;
as the load is continually decreased, continuously determining a reference load for the gas turbine engine;
when the reference load reaches a first threshold value, operating an inlet bleed heat (IBH) system of the gas turbine engine according to a first schedule;
when the reference load reaches a second threshold value, operating the IBH system according to a second schedule;
when the reference load reaches a third threshold value, operating an exhaust bleed (ExB) system of the gas turbine engine according to a third schedule; and
when the reference load reaches a fourth threshold value:
continuously measuring an exhaust gas temperature of the gas turbine engine at an inlet of a heat recovery steam generator coupled in flow communication to the gas turbine engine, and
maintaining the measured exhaust gas temperature at a predetermined threshold temperature value by continuously adjusting an exhaust gas temperature setpoint of the gas turbine engine while the gas turbine engine continues operating at a reference load below the fourth threshold value.
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