GAS TURBINE FILTRATION
Kingsley Tochukwu
COREN|MBA|BEng|PROJECTS COMMISSIONING | ASSET MANAGEMENT | FIELD SUPPORT | RCA | RELIABILITY & INTEGRITY | FIXED & ROTATING EQUIPMENT | GAS TURBINE
GAS TURBINE FILTRATION
Fitting the correct filter
to a gas turbine can
save money in terms of
availability, reliability,
power output efficiency
and heat rate loss.
But how do operators
evaluate and select a
filtration system that will
deliver what they need in
terms of performance and
budget?
By Engr Okoro Kingsley Toch
+2348068234367
For sponsorship/Consultation: kindly contact the above.
GAS TURBINE FILTRATION
On paper many filters may
seem to offer the same or
similar performance.
Standard filter ratings
are, however, based on
laboratory tests and
may not allow for the specific challenges a
particular gas turbine installation faces.
With intense time pressure, however, it is
often difficult for onsite personnel to evaluate
all the criteria they need to outside of what
the paper specification tells them. This can
be especially true in a competitive power
marketplace. As experienced personnel reach
retirement and are not replaced, the amount
of resources available on site reduces; adding
time pressure to every operation.
First of all, let’s take a look at why filters
are so critical to plant performance. If a filter
does not perform as it should, a site can face
a number of challenges in its efficiency and
profitability.
Turbines consume vast amounts of air
and the filter helps protect their performance
and reduce the need for maintenance
shutdowns. Fouling and corrosion caused by
airborne contaminants reaching the turbine
can significantly reduce turbine efficiency
and, in some cases, lead to complete turbine
shutdown.
Fine particles entering a turbine can stick
to turbine blades. As this fouling builds up, it
starts to affect the aerodynamic performance
of the turbine. This is seen in a reduction in
output power and rise in heat rate. To restore its
performance, a turbine will need to be taken
offline and washed to remove the particles.
Other contaminants may cause corrosion
or erosion of turbine parts, resulting in costly
repairs. Overall, the reduced turbine efficiency
and the lost production time when a turbine is
taken offline have large cost impacts in terms
of lost MW output.
Indeed, poor air filtration can account for
approximately 60-80 per cent of overall gas
turbine losses. Filtration systems should not
be treated as commodities. There is a bigger
picture to consider in terms of overall turbine
performance and health.
By Engr Okoro Kingsley Toch