The Performance of Gas Turbine Power Plant Using 5% Biodiesel & 95% High Speed Diesel

Abstract

Indonesia is the largest producer of crude palm oil CPO in the world. Biodiesel containing fatty methyl ethyl ester FAME is oil produced as a derivative process from CPO. Biodiesel has properties similar to high speed diesel HSD . The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources MEMR made a policy of using biodiesel as a mixture of HSD to be used as fuel in the electricity and transportation sector. There are many problems in the implementation of these fuels, especially in gas turbine power plants such as the impact on performance and reliability. In this study, the effects of biodiesel mixed with HSD were studied using a gas turbine power plant with a capacity of 18 MW. The mixture of 5% biodiesel and 95% HSD called B5 is used as fuel for testing for 1 month operation. Performance indicators such as load, fuel consumption, specific fuel consumption, exhaust gas temperature, and nozzle pressure are monitored during the testing. Performance data and results of inspection of hot gas lines from gas turbines operated for a month are then analyzed. As the results, B5 has reduced power production, increased fuel consumption, and the potential for heat corrosion in hot gas lines. After carrying out visual and deposit sampling inspections, found many deposits containing Carbon, Sodium and Sulphur. Sediment samples were tested in the laboratory to find out metal contaminants in deposits in the transition pieces, nozzle stages one, and nozzle stages two. The metal contaminants allegedly came from HSD and Biodiesel fuel.