Frequently gas turbine owners’ needs change over time, especially for the types of fuel they want to use. Changes in emissions requirements, fuel cost, fuel availability, unit reliability, ease of operation, or unit maintenance, frequently result in customers wanting to review different types of fuel capability for their installed gas turbines. The Keck Group International (KGI) has numerous engineers on their staff, who have extensive experience evaluating different types of fuel, and also in implementing fuel conversions for installed gas turbines. Different types of fuels that are frequently reviewed are:
Converting to Natural Gas fuel, from distillate fuel
Converting to use crude oil fuel, instead of distillate fuel
Converting to residual fuel, instead of distillate fuel
Converting to lower BTU liquid fuels like Benzene
Converting to lower BTU gas fuels like coke oven gas, process gasses, high hydrogen fuels, etc.
Converting to higher BUT gas fuels like Propane, Ethane, etc.
In the past 10 years, the following conversions have been implemented by engineers on the KGI staff:
Converting 2 MS6001 gas turbines from distillate fuel, to crude fuel
Converting 48 MS7001 gas turbines from distillate fuel, to Natural Gas fuel
Converting a MS9001 unit from distillate fuel, to liquid Residual fuel
Converting 3 MS9001 gas turbines from Natural Gas fuel, to process gas with 18% Hydrogen, on a unit with a DLN emission control system.
Converting 2 MS9001E units to use liquid Benzene fuel
Special care must be taken in converting any gas turbine to dual fuel capability. Frequently carbon residue/coke can form in the liquid fuel lines, as a result of fuel transfers from distillate fuel, to gas fuel, due to residual liquid fuel being left in the on-base fuel lines. Surveys of customers with dual fuel capability indicate that they all have significant issues with fuel transfers due to in-adequate purging of the fuel lines. Recommendations for improved liquid fuel purging will be included in all fuel conversion studies, and projects.
For help in evaluating different types of fuel, and/or in implementing fuel conversions, or in improving the reliability of your existing fuel system, please contact us at www.keckgroupint.com.