by
Sanjeev Jolly, P.E.
Caldwell Energy & Environmental, Inc.
Louisville, Kentucky, USA
ABSTRACT
Wet compression is a patented process that increases the capacity of a combustion turbine (CT) by as much as 15 to 25% by purposely injecting water droplets into a compressor inlet (AKA – overspray, high fogging or supersaturation). The increase in capacity is primarily due to reduction in compressor work and ability for additional firing in the combustor, and secondarily due to increase in mass flowrate. This paper presents thermodynamic benefits of wet compression, the risks associated with applying wer compression systems to a CT, the steps that were taken to integrate and validate the system at a recent installation, and performance results of the system application on a GE Frame 6B combustion turbine, in which power output was augmented by 9%.