If you focus on CCGT plants , you would need to recognize that the new method of operation is mostly 2-shift operation with daily startups and very fast startups, as opposed to the older design objective of base load operation . The older method was able to focus on high cycle efficiency while basically ignoring the startup /shutdown losses and limitations, while the new requirements force the designer to recognize fatigue damage caused by frequent load cycling and fast startups. Also, the economic payback for high cycle efficiency was made possible 10 yrs ago by a high cost of natural gas and a high plant capacity factor. Current US conditions are a low cost of fuel gas and a low capacity factor , with a premium paid for power avaialble from very fast startups.
The higher cycle efficiency available for base load designed CCGT units was made posible by the use of high Tit ( made possible by advanced gas turbine blade materials and very high efficiency compressor blade designs) , high steam pressures, double reheat steam cycles, wet compression for the CTG compressor, recovery of compressor work energy by use of a fuel gas heater or LP evaporator, and a variable speed BFP drive . Few of these design factors can be retrofit onto an existing CCGT plant. Also, these same design factors also hinder fast startups and worsen the fatigue damage that occurs during very fast startups.
Fast startups and low fatigue damage is typically achieved by using thin wall pressure parts ( which implies either a lower design pressure or the use of a once thru steam generator in lieu of a drum type unit), using design codes that recognize fatigue damage ( en 12952-3 annex C), installing mid wall thermocouples in thick pressure parts to monitor thermal stress during fast startups, 100% capacity HRH vent to atmosphere, final attemporators, electrically heated SCR NH3 heating gas, oversized demin storage tank, and fully automated startups . Some of these items can be retrofit, but these design objectives are different than the objectives used for a base load designed unit with a high capacity factor and a high cost of fuel gas.
"...when logic, and proportion, have fallen, sloppy dead..." Grace Slick