When evaluating capital investment options for your combined cycle or Co-generation facility there are a number of projects that can help you meet new market requirements, increase production, or decrease heat rate.

OEMs as well as non-OEMs offer comprehensive upgrade packages for the various gas turbine technologies. But such packages are capital intensive and you may not have sufficient capital allocated for such upgrades.

Below is a quick guide on the more common projects that can help you accomplish some of your needs with less capital requirements. Available form OEMs and Non-OEMs.

Gas turbine Air Inlet system

1. Upgraded filtration system. This upgrade can result in in both increasing power and decreasing heat rate by slowing down the degradation of the gas turbine compressor. Just make sure to choose a design  that will not impact you inlet pressure drop negatively.
2. Refrigeration system- This upgrade will only be beneficial if the revenues from power sales offset the drop in heat rate.
3. Inlet fogging system. This is the least capital intensive and provides the highest return on investment. Fogging systems increase power production and improve heat rate. invest in a good water filtration system to avoid excessive nozzle plugging.
4. Inlet guide vanes – possible OEM and Non-OEM. This upgrade will improve reliability with advanced coatings and increase power with improved airfoil design.

Gas Turbine Compressor section

1. Enhanced airfoil design for increase mass flow resulting increased power production and decrease in heat rate.
2. Improved sealing schemes to improve compressor efficiency.
3. More robust stationary blade segments for improved reliability.
4. These upgrades may be available from OEM and Non-OEM depending on the maturity of the technology.

Gas turbine expander section

1. Improved air foil design for improved power and heat rate.
2. Improved cooling designs for reliability or increasing the firing temperature for efficiency gains.
3. Enhance sealing schemes to reduce leakage and improve expander efficiency.

Steam Turbine

1. Improved sealing schemes to improve efficiency.
2. Improved material at the turbine exit to reduce blade erosion and improve reliability.
3. Sliding pressure control scheme for improved efficiency.

Heat Recovery Steam generator

1. Duct firing. This capability will provide quick response to power needs in the market.
2. Enhanced super heater section materials for improved reliability.
3. Improved refractory or insulation design for improved reliability.

Once again, investing in any of these projects can help meet new market requirements, improve profitability, or improve facility reliability.

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