Abstract
The Research and Development Center (R&DC) of Saudi Aramco has developed new application in ultrasound technology to support the huge networks of crude oil and gas processing facilities, including items of equipment running 24/7.Gas turbines are playing a vital role in supplying energy to different facilities within the companies and they need complex air filtration systems to operate at high speeds and prevent turbine section components from erosion, fouling, and corrosion. Saudi Aramco’s plants have a large number of energy producing gas turbines and the frequent air filter replacement program has become so expensive, that consequently, it has attracted the attention of the plant management to find an appropriate solution for cost reduction.R&DC of Saudi Aramco has completed an extensive investigative study to design and examine ultrasonic (sound waves) technology as a practical, easy-to-apply, and cost-effective cleaning procedure to remove the dust and dirt to maximize the lifetime of the air filters. Experimentally, high frequency sound is passed through a cleaning solution, providing waves of high and low pressure. Microscopic bubbles are produced, which implode almost immediately, bringing the cleaning fluid into contact with the surface being cleaned with great force, thereby breaking down dirt particles and cleaning the surface. Using sonic cleaning, it has been found that the filters are not only cleaned from dust and dirt but also from organic materials without affecting the physical integrity of the air filter.This technical paper benchmarks a technology that has been established to reuse more than 10,000 air filters, which are usually discarded companywide each year. Implementing this technology would not only result in operational cost savings, but also would contribute to the reduction of the local and global environmental impact.
Highlights
The gas turbine is an internal combustion engine that ingests a large amount of ambient air during operation (Figure 1) (Al-Shafei & Alabedi, 2010)
In the Research and Development Center (R&DC) we have developed an innovative chair to hold the spent air filter during the ultrasonic wave washing process
The environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) image of the used air filter cartridge sample (Figure 13) showed that the cartridge openings were completely blocked with dust
Summary
The gas turbine is an internal combustion engine that ingests a large amount of ambient air during operation (Figure 1) (Al-Shafei & Alabedi, 2010). Due to the combustion process, high temperature and high-pressure combustion gas are generated to be supplied into the turbine portion. By expansion of the combustion gas, moving blades of the turbine portion are driven to rotate a rotor and thereby to generate an electric power. The system should be selected based on the operational conditions and goals for the turbine, the contaminants present in the ambient air, and expected changes in the contaminants in the future due to several changes, such as seasonal changes (2)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
