Development of Test Procedure for Quantifying the Effects of Salt and Water on Gas Turbine Inlet Filtration

Inlet filtration on a gas turbine strongly influences the performance degradation and life of the turbine. The inlet filtration system must have a diverse set of stages to remove the contaminants present in various phases (gas, liquid, and solid). Filters for gas turbine filtration systems are currently classified using one of three standards: ASHRAE 52.2, EN 779, or EN 1822. These standards measure the performance of filters in the dry state and do not consider the performance of the filter when wet (saturated with water). Many locations where gas turbines operate, experience conditions where the filter can be dampened or saturated which can significantly influence the filter’s performance. In addition, if soluble particles, such as sodium chloride, are captured by the filter, then there is a potential for the soluble particles to be carried by the water through the filter and into the gas turbine. In order to understand the performance of a filter with water present, a procedure is being developed. This procedure intends to quantify the effects of water and salt on the performance of filters. The procedure has been written, and a series of preliminary validation tests have been completed. The results of the preliminary validation testing show that a change can be observed in the filter’s performance when salt and water are introduced into the flow stream. In addition, the preliminary validation testing revealed many areas where the test procedure could be improved.© 2012 ASME