New Compressor Cleaning System Documents up to 3% Performance Recovery Over Existing Systems
09 September 2008
Gas Turbine Efficiency (GTE), a leading provider of proprietary cleantech, energy saving and performance enhancing solutions to power generation, end users and OEMs, is pleased to announce the EcoValue™ line of large frame, industrial gas turbine performance enhancing compressor wash systems.
After three years of advanced engineering, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, wind tunnel testing, multiple field trials and permanent installations, GTE has once again proven its ability to commercialize solutions that optimize the assets of the power generation operators.
Field trials have documented nominal performance levels of 3% output recovery, 1% on heat rate, and up to 2% availability improvements for base loaded plants in comparison to OEM and competitive systems.
The unique and patented system is designed for large frame stationary gas turbines and as a standard includes full CFD optimized analysis of inlet geometry for precise nozzle placement to maximize cleaning effectiveness and engine / plant performance recovery. Both online and offline washes are performed from the nozzle set / position The system offers a number of advantages:
- Up to 3% performance recovery, 1% heat rate, and 2% availability improvements
- 793 units with 18M operating hours of demonstrated recovery and erosion robustness
- ROI in less than three months
- Optimized nozzle placement more effectively cleans
- Reduces water consumption by up to 65%
The GTE EcoValue product line is applicable to all gas turbines, but the latest releases apply to large frame gas turbines above 70MW. Field trials and testing have been performed on Siemens Westinghouse W501F (SGT6-5000F) and the General Electric Frames, 7 and 9.
As the cost of fuel continues to increase, and the demand for power generation continues to stretch the resources of plants, every opportunity to maintain efficiency is being considered. The EcoValue Water Wash unit is a low-cost investment which provides a rapid ROI, potentially less than three months. GTE has developed a calculator that can assist with a power generator's specific ROI.
The GTE process uses a validated, pressurized water delivery system and nozzle to create a controlled distribution of water droplets. The water effectively enters the compressor inlet air stream and wets the compressor blading.
The droplet mass and momentum is specifically selected to penetrate the pressure wave surrounding each compressor blade to wet and scrub the blading. The droplet distribution has an impact force and placement that avoids erosion. At the same time, the droplet impact produces a very significant local lateral stress, or jet, to incrementally scrub the blade surface of fouling materials.
