A new breed of high-performance gas turbines (GTs), such as the H-class, offer exceptional efficiency and responsiveness. With net efficiencies of more than 60% when run in combined cycle mode, they are becoming the turbine of choice in PowerGen applications. These turbines are helping reduce global CO2 emissions and bridge the gap to meet global energy demands while renewable resources are developed. However, to ensure these levels of performance are maintained, manufacturers of filtration systems also need to up their games to ensure protection of these valuable assets when operating in real-world conditions.
One of the challenges for power plant operators is how to protect turbines from the harsh environmental conditions on-site. Standard tests run in laboratory conditions give some “on paper” indication of how filters will perform, but the reality is often different. Indeed, even with as much lab testing as possible, it’s no substitute for real-world testing. Having test rigs running at or near GTs sites for periods of six months to a year at a time, with continuous monitoring of performance, gives a true indication of how a filter will perform.