PROPERTIES OF LIQUID FUELS FOR GAS TURBINES: Selection of fuel depends upon a number of factors and must be carefully

understood and reviewed. Also, based upon the fuel specification the hardware is designed and/or selected and so is the plant arrangement. The two most important factors affecting the selection of fuel are the environmental considerations and the various established norms established in this regard and the limiting requirements for the functioning of the Gas Turbine. Based upon the EV and SEV combustors, any special fuel requirements are decided and hence the treatment to be given to the fuel is decided upon and also the equipment required. The properties of the fuel are also ascertained by checking a fuel sample in the laboratory. Each piece of equipment or hardware has certain limitations w.r.t the fuel properties such as limitation on viscosity. In case of deviations, appropriate treatment is required. If Fuel Bound Nitrogen, FBN>150ppm, increased NOx result. NOx emission is a very serious issue and is detrimental to the environment as well as human health. National and International standards pertaining to NOx emissions must be adhered to. Nitrogen is present in many organic compounds. FBN in the flame zone changes to NOx and adds to nominal NOx emissions formed by the reaction between atmospheric oxygen and nitrogen. Diesel oil is selected to have FBN less than 0.015%. If FBN is more than special equipments/processes are required after prognosis. The minimum operating temperature is 10 degrees over pour point i.e., Pour Point Temperature + 10 C. If data regarding pour point is not available then cloud point or the cold filter plugging point may be used. Heating the fuel reverses the precipitation of paraffin flakes. f = fspec ((a*ma)/mf)-((w*mw)/mf), f = max. allowable actual contaminant in fuel oil (ppm) fspec= max. specified summarized contaminant concentration of all media streams a = contaminant concentration in air ma = mass of flow air w = contaminant concentration in water injected in combustion chamber and air (ppm) mf = mass flow rate of fuel mw = sum of water and steam mass flow Carbon and Aromatic residues in fuel are highly undesirable and indicative of relative coke deposit forming tendency. Presence of coke leads to deposits on equipments in fuel oil systems. These deposits are hardly soluble in any solvents and the equipment has to be taken apart for cleaning. It also leads to increased

erosive impact on turbine blading. Carbon residues may increase due to the presence of compounds such as pour point depressants and smoke formation rises due to aromatics. The presence of aromatic compounds increases radiation impact on components in combustion chamber and thus a high aromatic content may warrant a reduction in turbine inlet temperature. Kinematic viscosity must not exceed 50 mm2/s at lowest ambient temperature. Fuel heating may be necessary especially in case of fuels having high wax content to prevent precipitation in filters or pump vanes. For optimum atomization, viscosity at fuel nozzle tip must be below 10mm2/s. The maximum fuel oil temperature is 60 C without insulation. Flash point is the lowest temperature at which a liquid starts forming ignitable vapors together with air. This is very important parameter as regards transportation and storage of fuel even in pipelines. Fuels having flash point less than 38 C must only be employed in conjunction with an explosion proof system. The decision to use an explosion proof system or not is based upon the ambient temperature. Low sulfur fuel should be used since all of sulfur converts to SO2 and SO3 in the combustion zone. If GT is combined with a Rankine cycle system, SO 3 content has to be communicated to HRSG manufacturer since exhaust dew point rises with concentration of sulfuric acid causing cold end corrosion. The ash formed is generally low and less than 50ppm. At this content there is no risk of erosion. However, in case of ash concentration exceeding 50 ppm, turbine vanes, blades as well as the parts of compressor, other equipment and pipelines undergo erosion and life of the component falls. Ash is formed by oil soluble organometallics and insoluble inorganics. In the reaction zone, new compounds with various melting points are formed which have high corrosive potential. Heavy metal traces such as V, Pb, Sn, Ni, Zn cause high temperature corrosion. Addition of corrosion inhibitors is not allowed hence fuel oil is not applicable if heavy metal limit is exceeded. The paint of storage tanks, trucks, ships etc. must be in accordance with standards and must avoid contamination of fuel with heavy metals. Also it cant be transported in tanks having previously carried heavy oil or leaded petrol. Water and solid portions can cause corrosion and wear of pumps, valves etc. Water and sediments settle to the bottom in a weeks time and hence oil is withdrawn using floating suction. Tanks are designed with sloping bottoms and filling and recycling lines are connected to lower part of the tank. For continuous oil firing operations. The minimum settling time required is 48 hours. During filling and settling time, simultaneous withdrawal is not allowed. In the first, few days after tank filling, water drawing must be daily. If settling does not bring fuel

quality within specification, centrifuges, electrostatic precipitators, coalescers etc. have to be employed. Water drainage is essential to avoid bacterial growth and slime formation caused about by microorganisms. E.g.: Sulfate reducing bacteria create corrosive sulfur compounds. Yeasts etc. may also grow in presence of water and clog the filters. Minimum of two fuel tanks are recommended so that fuel is withdrawn from one tank while fuel is filled, settled in another tank. Calcium forms hard unwanted deposits on turbine blading whereas in the flame sodium reacts with sulfur to convert the sulfur oxides to sodium sulfates, which causes hot corrosion. This problem may also arise if air containing Na or K is drawn in near the shore. Oil has capacity to retain 150ppm emulsified water and hence demulsifiers may have to be added especially if retained water is undiluted seawater. Chromium additives, which can serve to inhibit hot corrosion, are never employed. The standard procedures outlined in company manuals are employed to test for sodium (Na) and potassium (K) content. The ASTM procedure is not recommended in this case as ignition may result in loss of ash or the melting of ash resulting in the formation of water insoluble compounds. Kerosene, Naphtha, Crude oil, Alcohols, Ethers, Biodiesels etc. are never employed for use in Gas Turbines especially ALSTOM GT24 and GT26.

AIR INLET SYSTEMS (Limits for ambient Air Pollutant): Gas turbines require some minimum air quality to operate safely and reliably. Air cleaning equipment is installed at turbine air intake systems. There are limits on ambient air pollutants such as atmospheric dust concentrations, depending on the filter cartridges employed and their operating hours. The concentrations of pollutants in exhaust gases are a function of firing configuration, operating practices and fuel composition. Usually gas fired, plants generally, produce negligible quantities of particulates, SO2, SO3 etc. and NOx levels are 60% of the coal plants. Gas plants also release lesser CO2. Ash residues and dust removed from exhaust gases may contain heavy metals and some organic compounds. If fuel gas desulphurization and other such measures are employed then, risk of increase in solid waste rises.

Emission norms must be followed for at least 95% time calculated on annual operating hours and rest 5% is for startups, shutdowns, untoward incident or emergency fuel use. Particulate matter in gas should be limited to less than 50mg/Nm and to 10micro meter in aerodynamic diameter. Particulate matter less than the above mentioned size is very bad for lungs if inhaled. SO2 emission must not cross 0.2 metric tons per day per MWe up to 500Mwe and beyond that 0.10tpd for each MWe added. Concentration of SO 2 in flue gas must not go beyond 2000mg/Nm while adhering to a maximum limit of 500 tpd.

Key production and emission control policies include: Choosing the cleanest fuel. It is preferable to use natural gas over fuel oil, which is still preferable to coal. Selection of best power generation technology for chosen fuel to balance environmental and economic concerns. Particulates less than 10m and can be removed at relatively low costs. Modify combustion and use low NOx burners to reduce NOx emissions. SOx removal systems employing less waste water must be used wherever recommended.

POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES: Use cleaner fuels. Natural gas is most preferable in terms of capital costs, thermal efficiency, low CO2 emissions per unit of energy and enhance energy efficiency. Low sulphur fuel with high heat content must be preferred with low ash content. For particulate removal cyclones, fabric filters are used. Cyclones remove less than 90% particulate matter. Filters can achieve even better than 99.9% removal. For controlling NOx emissions, combustion modifications such as low NOx burners, water/steam injection and selective catalytic or non-catalytic reduction may be used.