This paper addresses problems and solutions associated with the first stage inlet air treatment systems provided with six General Electric (GE) LM-2500 PE aeroderivative gas turbines used in a Combined Cycle Cogeneration application. The LM-2500’s are sited adjacent to gypsum wallboard plants, which serve as the Cogeneration hosts.
Problems associated with the inlet air treatment systems were noted soon after start-up of the LM-2500 engines in June 1992 and February 1993. Poor performance of the air treatment system appeared to contribute to premature failures in the Gas Turbine hot sections. Heavy particulate loading due to the surrounding gypsum environment was identified as the root cause of the problems affecting the first and second filtration stages and the evaporative cooling stage of the engine inlet air systems.
Following air sampling tests, a number of modifications and upgrades were studied to improve the performance of the inlet air treatment. An engine inlet at each site was modified with a bag filter system for the first stage filtration. The performance of the modified inlets was then monitored and compared to the remaining units. After the successful performance of the modified inlets during the second and third quarters of 1994, the remaining LM-2500 engine inlets were subsequently modified in October 1994.
