4 replies to this topic

[Zauberberg]

We use reverse-pulse air system for online cleaning of turbine air intake (Donaldson GDX) filters. The source of air is the axial compressor itself, and a slipstream of compressed (8barg) cooled air is passed through series of Norgren filters, 40/25/5um particle size, before introduced to the pulse air grid inside the filter housing.

Since the environment is very humid (Equatorial Guinea, Bioko Island), reaching 100% saturation during nights, compressed and cooled air contains approx. 3% liquid water going into the filters. Last night we did a small exercise and tested the system in two ways:

1. Installing a temporary KO pot upstream of the filters, on one of the six turbines. Water collected: 1.5 liters/hr
2. Measuring quantity of water drained from the filter system itself, on another turbine. Water collected: 1.0 liter/hr

It appears that some of the liquid water passes through the filter system and is being blown back on to the main air intake filters during cleaning (huff and puff) cycles.

We have decided to test this system due to the fact that some of the main air intake filters started experiencing high pressure drop, leading to lower power output from gas turbines. We are wondering how much of this DP buildup is due to environmental conditions, and how much due to blowing liquid water onto the filter elements. And also to see what could be the best solution for eliminating this water from the system, e.g:

1. Installing KO pots upstream of the filters, or
2. Installing coalescers instead. Any recommended vendors?

We need completely automated system so that no field operator attention is required. I would like to hear your suggestions, especially from people with a hands-on experience in this subject.

Best regards,

The quality of the air required by Donaldson pulse system is mainly dictated by the valves controling the pulse. Should the compressed air be contaminated by water or solid contaminants, corrosion will occur very quickly or/and the valves will stick very quickly, reducing the efficiency of the pulse system.

The pulse efficiency is corrolated to the way the compressed air is delivered as a pulse. Should there be any deviation, the energy release from the pulse will decrease, therefore the cleaning of the cartridge will not be good or not occur at all.

Should you have any more query on this subject, please contact me as I work for Donaldson Gas Turbine Systems.

It is also possible to contact Donaldson via our website www.donaldson.com.

I hope that my comment will be of help.

Frederic Rochais
Sales area manager Donaldson GTS

[Art Montemayor]

Frederic:

Please allow me to interject my personal thanks for your valuable expert contribution and recommendations on such important and valuable topics as Gas Turbine operation on unmanned offshore platforms. Continuous and safe operation of this equipment is top priority - as well documented by Zauber.

I am also involved with an un-manned offshore project that employs multiple turbine-driven centrifugal compressors, so I am well aware of the concerns and potential problems outlined by Zauber.

I don't mean to up-stage Zauber with my thanks (because I know that he will also demonstrate his gratitude), but I want to emphasize that your considerate and expert response is the type of engineering help and customer service that I have always envisioned as a potential help to all our members. There is nothing as valuable - and yet scarce - engineering help as direct, manufacturer's information and data when one is caught out in the field in a remote and low infrastructure environment. A manufacturer's expert and certified information on specific, special, and critical equipment is of vital and primary importance - because sometimes a lot of the original, pre-commissioning, commissioning, and start-up information has been discarded or the involved individuals are no longer existent on job site. All one is left with is hear-say or personal opinions based on guesses.

I sincerely give you my thanks and hope you continue to share your customer service information with our Forums. I also would hope that other equipment manufacturers use our Forums to assist and share their specific equipment information with our members who, after all, are their customer base on a world-wide platform. I also would expect for our membership to express their gratitude to those manufacturers who employ our Forum platform as one of their customer service and customer relations vechicles.

Thank you.

[Zauberberg]

Frederic, thank you for providing your services in the forum, and big thanks for the telephone call this afternoon. I guess you couldn't know that the same person who contacted you via e-mail has started this thread some time ago.

I agree with Art, it would be great if you could share as much as possible information regarding turbine air intake systems, and the pulse jet applications - as long as it is not considered as confidential/business secret in Donaldson. The importance of proper filter selection and functioning of the pulse jet system is huge, especially in remote locations, and any assistance we can get in these matters will be greatly appreciated.

Best regards

[ankur2061]

Dear Manufacturers/Vendors,

Our dear administrator Art Montemayor has very succintly conveyed by his posting that he wants some of the reputed names manufacturing equipments for the CPI to come forward and help solve queries of the forum members who are part of their worldwide ccustomer base:

On behalf of our forum I invite company representatives to help our forum members from reputed companie such as:

Compressors: Ingersoll-Rand, Dresser-Rand, GE energy, Burton Corblin, Man Turbomashinen, Atlas Copco, CompAir , Siemens

Pumps: Flowserve, Goulds, Ebara

Mechanical Seals: John Crane, Burgmann

Flare Systems: John Zink, Callidus Technologies, Flare Industries, Argo

Filtration Systems: Palll Corporation, Donaldson

Mixers: Chemineer, Ligtnin

Control Valves: Emerson (Fischer), Valtek, Masoneilan

Flowmeters: Emerson

Manual Valves: Durco, Jamesbury, Vogt, KTM & others

And many others whom I could not name who could help our forum members.

Thanks & Regards,
Ankur.