Turbine Inlet Cooling

Many industries use gas turbine engines to power a variety of compressors, generators, and other equipment. These engines require large amounts of oxygen to run efficiently. During the summer months, as ambient air temperature rises, the density of the air decreases and limits the amount of oxygen per cubic foot of intake air. Cooling the intake air increases density and improves engine efficiency. The illustration below shows a typical installation.

Gas Turbine Cooling (Dense Air Injection)

Rental equipment typically used for turbine inlet cooling applications includes the following:

• AC modules or chiller/AHU packages ranging from 50 to 525 tons

• Ducting, piping, and fittings

• Engineering and supervision services

• Installation and maintenance services

• On-site operation and training

Typical Customers:

Any company that uses gas turbine engines is a potential customer including:

• Electric utilities

• Pulp and paper mills

• Oil refineries

• Petroleum and natural gas production companies

• Chemical plants

• Food manufacturers

Discovery Questions:

• Do you use gas turbine engines to power equipment?

• Do you experience any turbine horsepower or efficiency losses during hot summer months?

Configuration and Installation Issues:

• Place A/C or AHU equipment as close to the turbine inlet as possible.

• Be aware of area electrical classifications.

• Wet bulb temperatures have high impact on air temperature into the turbine.