I am wondering if there is any value to adding CDMs to my GT with DLN. Does anyone have these systems? and if so which ones would you recommend.

 

Way too little information provided here.

How do you operate your machine? Base Load? Load following? Daily start/stop? Peaker?

Heavy duty gas turbine? Aero-derivative? B-class unit? E-class unit? F-class unit? DLN-I? DLN 2.0? DLN 2.6?

Have you had problems with combustion hardware failures due to high combustion dynamics? Have you had repeated hardware failures attributable to high combustion dynamics?

Do you have to retune more than once per year to keep the unit's emissions output in compliance with regulations?

Do you have remote DLN tuning capability?

 

I was inquiring about a 7EA run as a peaker with DLN1 system. that goes out of emission compliance on some start-ups and need to re-tune. Typically gets tuned in spring and fall for ambient changes.

Don't do remote tuning but were thinking if CDMs were added we could do that. or also thinking about software that GE has to offer that allows us to auto-tune.

Haven't had any HW problems that we are aware of yet or that have brought us down.

 

http://www.gtefficiency.com/monitoring.asp

CDM is required for any auto tuning product. I believe there is a product called ECOMAX that also auto-tunes.

 

Does anyone have experience with either ECOMAX or GE's version? recommendations?

Has anyone had any issues where the CDMs alarmed on dynamics?

I think our GT is robust on dynamics and that emissions may be more of a concern.

 

Response: We installed 4 CDMs in our four GE 7FA's. We originally did our first unit early this year. We brought the signals into our DCS system for Achieving and Alarming. The system that GTE installed for us is far superior to the previous CDMs that we had (GE). as far as reliability and interfacing with our equipment (DCS). We now have Critical alarming for our operators and our maintenance crew can actually trouble shoot the turbines dynamics. The Windows are actually available through out the Plant site and can actually be viewed company wide.

We didn't stop there, We purchase the ECOMax system which we are really satisfied with the results. For example we had a GT that historically gave GE fits when it came to tuning the machine. We have seasonally set a unique curve to this machine. GTE engineering was able to install the ECOmax autotune. The machine tunes automatically for Nox and Dynamics.We are currently a very satisfied customer. We Now have all four 7FA's on CDMS and ECOmax systems on line.

 

If you don't had any problems dynamics in the past it seems an expensive operation. However, by looking into your combustors you can see how much margin you have concerning the emissions.

It is however not clear whether the autotuning systems are only active in premix operation or not. If they are only active in fully premix, these systems will not solve a start-up emissions problems (Carlos, do you know if the Ecomax system is active during start-up?, and what type of combustion system do you have on your 7FA's?).

 

Another question I have on autotuning is does it tune after an outage or will that still need to be done manually?

 

The ECOMAX system tunes continuously. It will tune after an outage, or during normal operations.

As for start up tuning, they told us that is an option, such as "yellow plume" tuning in modes other than premix. We did not purchase it.