Compressor Fouling Assessment by On-Field Deposit Detection On 260 MW Gas Turbine

Abstract Compressor fouling prediction is an even more challenging task for gas turbine manufacturers and end-users, who must increase efficiency and reduce consumption while maintaining reliability and service. Land-based units and flying gas turbines are susceptible to contamination from airborne pollutants. Plant location or airport conditions determine the intensity of the exposure to such contaminants. Natural- and anthropogenic-based contaminant sources determine the intensity and characteristics of contamination, which are mitigated or enhanced by local wind and relative humidity. All of these variables interact and, depending on the machine design and performance, determine changes in the unit's performance over time. In this work, a detailed analysis of contamination experienced by a 260 MW land-based unit was conducted. The analysis comprises the on-field detection and collection of deposits taken from the filter house and the relevant surface of the compressor multistage unit. Fouling was assessed by analyzing the sample with optical and electron-scanning microscopes. The results propose the structure, morphology, and chemical composition of deposits from the inlet section to the last stage of the compressor unit. Effects such as temperature, oxidation, and contamination sources have been cross-correlated to provide a general interpretation of the data and to define guidelines for addressing the compressor fouling phenomenon.