Due to compressor fouling, gas turbine efficiency decreases over time, resulting in decreased power output of the plant. To counteract the effects of compressor fouling, compressor on-line and off-line washing procedures are used. The effectiveness of compressor off-line washing is enhanced if combined with the cleaning of the VIGVs and the first compressor blade row by hand. This paper presents a thorough analysis of the effects of compressor on-line washing on the gas turbine performance. The analysis is based on the measured data of six gas turbines operated at two different plants. Different washing schedules and washing fluids are analyzed and compared. Furthermore, the effects of compressor on-line washing on the load distribution within the compressor are analyzed. The performance benefit of daily compressor on-line washing compared with weekly compressor on-line washing is quantified. As expected, daily compressor on-line washing yields the lowest power degradation caused by compressor fouling. Also, the effect of washing additives is analyzed. It is shown with long term data that compressor on-line washing cleans up to the first 11 compressor stages, as can be detected well in the compressor. With a view to gas turbine performance optimization, the recommendation is to perform compressor off-line washing at regular intervals and to take advantage of occasions such as inspections, when the gas turbine is cooled down anyhow. Especially for gas turbines with a high fouling rate, a daily compressor on-line washing schedule should be considered to reduce the power loss. For gas turbines operating with high fogging, compressor on-line washing has no added benefit. To determine the optimal compressor washing schedule, compressor blade erosion also has to be considered. A reasonable balance between compressor on-line washing and off-line washing improves the gas turbine performance and optimizes the gas turbine availability.
Skip Nav Destination
e-mail: ernst.schneider@power.alstom.com
Article navigation
June 2010
Research Papers
Analysis of Compressor On-Line Washing to Optimize Gas Turbine Power Plant Performance
Ernst Schneider,
e-mail: ernst.schneider@power.alstom.com
Ernst Schneider
Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
, Brown-Boveri-Strasse 7, 5401 Baden, Switzerland
Search for other works by this author on:
Saba Demircioglu Bussjaeger,
Saba Demircioglu Bussjaeger
Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
, Brown-Boveri-Strasse 7, 5401 Baden, Switzerland
Search for other works by this author on:
Susana Franco,
Susana Franco
Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
, Brown-Boveri-Strasse 7, 5401 Baden, Switzerland
Search for other works by this author on:
Dirk Therkorn
Dirk Therkorn
Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
, Brown-Boveri-Strasse 7, 5401 Baden, Switzerland
Search for other works by this author on:
Ernst Schneider
Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
, Brown-Boveri-Strasse 7, 5401 Baden, Switzerlande-mail: ernst.schneider@power.alstom.com
Saba Demircioglu Bussjaeger
Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
, Brown-Boveri-Strasse 7, 5401 Baden, Switzerland
Susana Franco
Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
, Brown-Boveri-Strasse 7, 5401 Baden, Switzerland
Dirk Therkorn
Alstom (Switzerland) Ltd.
, Brown-Boveri-Strasse 7, 5401 Baden, SwitzerlandJ. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Jun 2010, 132(6): 062001 (7 pages)
Published Online: March 18, 2010
Article history
Received:
April 14, 2009
Revised:
April 28, 2009
Online:
March 18, 2010
Published:
March 18, 2010
Citation
Schneider, E., Demircioglu Bussjaeger, S., Franco, S., and Therkorn, D. (March 18, 2010). "Analysis of Compressor On-Line Washing to Optimize Gas Turbine Power Plant Performance." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. June 2010; 132(6): 062001. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4000133
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Heat Release Characteristics of a Volatile, Oxygenated, and Reactive Fuel in a Direct Injection Engine
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Comprehensive Life Cycle Analysis of Diverse Hydrogen Production Routes and Application on a Hydrogen Engine
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power
Related Articles
Erratum: “Influence of Blade Deterioration on Compressor and Turbine Performance” [ Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 2010, 132(3), p. 032401 ]
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (November,2010)
Compressor Fouling Modeling: Relationship Between Computational Roughness and Gas Turbine Operation Time
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (May,2012)
Fouling Mechanisms in Axial Compressors
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power (March,2012)
Metallurgical Failure Analysis of a Rotating Blade in the Compressor Section of a Gas Turbine
J. Pressure Vessel Technol (November,2006)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Control and Operational Performance
Closed-Cycle Gas Turbines: Operating Experience and Future Potential
Review of Basic Principles
Fundamentals of heat Engines: Reciprocating and Gas Turbine Internal Combustion Engines
Combined Cycle Power Plant
Energy and Power Generation Handbook: Established and Emerging Technologies