Filtration Adapts to Turbomachinery Demands

Guatam Marwaha, Gas Turbine Product Manager at Camfil Power Systems

Tell our readers about Camfil.

Gas turbines are sensitive equipment that rely on good air quality to deliver reliable output. Since 98% of the input is air, a properly designed air inlet system is essential for maintaining efficiency, reliability, and availability. With 60 years of experience, Camfil Power Systems is a data-driven organization that specializes in air inlet filtration and acoustical solutions for gas turbines, generators, industrial air compressors, and diesel engines. Our engineers design products that help customers operate assets profitably while maintaining peak performance. Our customer base includes original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), engineering procurement construction companies (EPCs), operators, and end users. Camfil supports a green energy future by engineering filtration technologies that reduce carbon footprints and are manufactured sustainably.

What products and services do you offer to the turbomachinery market?

We offer a complete range of solutions including: Filter elements such as bag filters, panel filters, cartridge (pulse) filters, and compact (static) filters; air intake filter housing for static, pulse, combined static & pulse; air treatment for heating & cooling systems; ducting & expansion joints, inlet silencers, inlet dampers, enclosures & ventilation; & weather hoods, louvers/mist eliminators, and screens.

On the services front, we offer: Site surveys such as air quality analysis, noise measurements, and filter house assessment; 3-6 months on-site filter testing and comparison (CamLab); filter laboratory testing, filter management, and filter installation; life cycle cost analysis (total cost of ownership); retrofit service; PowerEye predictive analytics services to predict gas turbine power output, maintenance optimization, and turbine performance data; and gas turbine air inlet filtration training at the Test & Learn Event.

How have filters changed over the last ten or so years?

Turbomachinery technology has evolved tremendously over the last decades. Studies of thermodynamics, computerized fluid dynamics, and the use of more innovative materials and technologies have boosted equipment efficiency to a higher level. These developments made turbomachinery more susceptible to fine particulates that cause fouling and corrosion, leading to more rapid degradation of performance. At the same time, stricter emissions regulations require more efficient technologies on the filtration side adapted to changing environmental conditions.

These requirements call for filtration systems of increasingly high efficiency. To ensure the optimum design, our global R&D centers offer dedicated test rigs for turbomachinery applications. Here, tests are conducted to develop new filters matching customer demands. No matter where on the globe you have a turbomachinery application, Camfil Power Systems provides the knowledge, expertise, and R&D facilities to assess, analyze and recommend solutions.

What is PowerEye?

Camfil introduced its PowerEye predictive analytics service for both air intake filters and gas turbines. It was developed with the understanding that ambient and operational conditions can have a major impact on the performance of engines and the entire operation. PowerEye helps you make faster and smarter decisions that will improve power output across your fleet, improve maintenance practices, and help increase profits.

PowerEye’s algorithms combined with real-world filter data predict how different filters and changing atmospheric conditions affect turbine performance. It provides insights and information to maximize the performance of engines, relative to optimizing filter change-outs, improving capacity forecasting, and increasing uptime.

What are CamGT filters used for?

CamGT filters are engineered for environments where large turbomachinery is threatened by high humidity, salt-laden air, and heavy pollution or particulate. They are optimized with low and stable drop features, long service life, and high filtration efficiency to increase availability and reliability.

The latest generation includes three models. The CamGT 4V-300 (12” depth), the New CamGT 3V-440 (17”), and the CamGT 3V-600 (24”). CamGT filters are offered from T7 - T13 efficiency per ISO 29461-1:2021, and fulfill standards for efficiency, burst strength, and water repellency. There is also a Value Rating feature to help evaluate real-life filtration effectiveness and economics based on test data.

What trends have you observed related to turbomachinery filters?

There has been a shift to higher efficiency filters in recent years. Efficiencies that were considered too high a decade ago are becoming more commonplace today, especially for newer installations. This ties in well with the industry’s focus on a clean energy future, where higher efficiency filtration helps to reduce carbon emissions. Another step in this direction has been the introduction of the new air filtration efficiency test standard known as ISO 29461-1:2021. For the first time, the ISO 29461 family of specifications was written with turbomachinery in mind. Following the initial release of ISO 29461-1 for filter efficiency, several additional sections will be issued with test methods designed to rate the pulsability, burst strength, water resistance, and salt resistance of filters.

What do you have on the horizon?

Camfil Power Systems will be introducing new filtration solutions and services later this year that have been adapted to the changing environmental conditions and technological advancements in the industry. In addition, Test & Learn Events, a 2-day course on the topic of gas turbines and air inlet filtration, are now scheduled to take place in Malaysia, Canada, and Sweden. The training includes hands on experiments, and will cover topics such as the theory of gas turbines and filtration, filter & system design, total cost of ownership, and more.

For more information, visit camfil.com