K
We operate a fleet of 4 GE Frame 6B GTs with MkV controls currently running in open cycle.
Recently, the fuel (natural gas) supplier switched to a different source with the new fuel having a lower C1 (methane) % and a higher CO2 content (~7% comapred to <2% in the previous fuel).
Although the GTs seem to operate normally and GE confirmed that the new fuel specs are acceptable, we noticed that the heat rates have increased quite significantly (from the normal 11500 kJ/kWh to ~13000 kJ/kWh).
The GTs were not retuned when the new fuel was introduced.
We suspect that the gas spec has changed significantly as to require the combustion to be retuned.
My questions are:
1. Is this assumption true?
2. What needs to be done to confirm that the GTs are not running at the optimum FAR.
3. What needs to be done to correct this.
Thanks,
Khairil
Recently, the fuel (natural gas) supplier switched to a different source with the new fuel having a lower C1 (methane) % and a higher CO2 content (~7% comapred to <2% in the previous fuel).
Although the GTs seem to operate normally and GE confirmed that the new fuel specs are acceptable, we noticed that the heat rates have increased quite significantly (from the normal 11500 kJ/kWh to ~13000 kJ/kWh).
The GTs were not retuned when the new fuel was introduced.
We suspect that the gas spec has changed significantly as to require the combustion to be retuned.
My questions are:
1. Is this assumption true?
2. What needs to be done to confirm that the GTs are not running at the optimum FAR.
3. What needs to be done to correct this.
Thanks,
Khairil