Abstract Gas turbines require filtered air to preserve the efficiency and the life of the system. Different degradation processes can occur depending on the size and composition of the contaminants. The compressor’s performance can be negatively impacted by fouling and erosion, which alter the shape and roughness of the blades. To limit the effects of the aforementioned phenomena, multistage filtration systems are commonly installed to reduce the contamination at the gas turbine inlet. Traditionally, particle separation is performed through mechanical filtration, which means that the particles are trapped inside cartridges of porous materials. This typology of filter guarantees a high filtration efficiency but on the other hand, generates remarkable pressure drop increasing over time. Inertial filters instead separate contaminants from the flow by utilizing the effect of inertial force acting on solid particles. In recent years, electrostatic filters have become widespread. The fibers of the filters are charged with an electrostatic field before installation and this charge is capable of separating and attracting metallic particles from the airflow. However, the electrostatic field’s effect diminishes with the exposure time with this type of filter. This work presents an innovative electro-dynamic filtration system for gas turbine application. The geometry and electrical features of the devices are designed to keep low-pressure drop and high capturing efficiency over time. To achieve these goals, a numerical campaign is performed using an in-house OpenFOAM solver, which takes into account the effect of the electrostatic force of the Lagrangian phase. After the definition of the optimal geometry, experimental tests are performed to validate the numerical results. Finally, a comprehensive laboratory-scale campaign is carried out to evaluate filtration efficiency under various environmental conditions, including different types of contaminants, concentrations, and exposure times.
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