THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

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printed In USA.
Copyright © 1990 by ASME

Technical and Other Considerations for the Selection of

Inlet Air Filtration Systems for High-Efficiency Industrial
Combustion Turbines
CECIL H. GOULDING
Director, Engineered Systems & International Sales
Farr Company
El Segundo, California
MYRON G. RASMUSSEN
Director of Engineering
Farr Company
El Segundo, California
FREDERICK M. FRITZ, JR.
Manager, Systems Engineering
Energy Services, Inc.
Farmington, Connecticut

ABSTRACT ventilation industry. The arrival of the aero-deriva-

Each combustion turbine installation has peculiar to
it site-related characteristics that, if considered
carefully, will define the type of inlet system that
best fits the operational requirements. Historically,
and unless owner specified, the OEM/Packager supplies
his standard, all-purpose air filter configuration as
an integral part of the package. The standard may or
may not be the best selection for filtering combustion
inlet air at the intended specific site location.
This technical paper will match inlet air filtration
systems to several typical ambient conditions, using
laboratory tests and actual site experience. This
paper can also be used as a technically current selec-
tion guide for those considering various inlet air
filtration requirements for new and retrofit systems.
INTRODUCTION
Turbine performance and component service life greatly
depend on the ability of an air inlet system to reduce
or eliminate contaminants entering the system. If
these contaminants are not effectively removed, then
fouling, erosion and low and high temperature corro-
sion will occur.
Some turbine manufacturers specify that the gas tur-
bine air inlet system must be able to limit sodium
and potassium chlorides to 0.0015 to 0.01 ppm, and to
provide an overall efficiency of 99.7% on 2 microns,
and in some cases, a requirement of 95% on 0.3 microns
This level of performance is important, from the ini-
tial start-up to the recommended filter change-out.
Also, the importance of an effective seal on the air
filter holding device and/or filter banks made up from
individual frames, cannot be ignored. This seems like
such an obvious statement, but there is not much point
in having a 99% efficiency air filter if the filter
bank seal leaks.
Farr Company's experience with gas turbine inlet air
filtration began in 1955. Our original gas turbine
filter houses used low to medium efficiency air filt-
ers, generally borrowed from the air conditioning and
tive gas turbine brought new air filter challenges
and the subsequent introduction of specific high-
efficiency gas turbine air filters. From the beginning,
our experience has taught us that high-efficiency final
filters are a basic requirement for the most cost-effec-
tive operation of high-efficiency combustion turbines.
First-stage filters and/or weather/environmental rela-
ted filter house components are a secondary considera-
tion, but are basic for the overall requirement of a
gas turbine inlet system tailored to a particular geo-
graphic area, operational duty, and a specific site
condition.
Determining the efficiency of various individual fil-
ters and the implication of different media in series
can be confusing and produce dangerous conclusions.
Many industrial test standards have been, and are
being used to predict performance, but are frequently
inadequate for gas turbine applications. We recommend
measuring filter efficiency by particle size, which
enables one to compare individual filter performance
and filters in series precisely and appropriately.
Standard test criteria, e.g., standardized fine dust,
is also recommended, as this test dust most closely
resembles the overall gas turbine site tests we have
conducted and analyzed.
Mis-application of self-cleaning pulse filters and
the trend to standardize on them for all locations
and environments is a reality. This is the main con-
cern prompting a re-examination of air filter compo-
nents to match the environment and turbine application.
Users and operators are fast coming to the conclusion
that a single component/filter house design cannot be
used successfully in all geographic regions and for
all gas turbine duties and specific site conditions.
Additionally, any well-designed filter house should
provide an economical solution for initial cost, as
well as continued operating costs, and, through the
use of modular design, accommodate the addition of
evaporative coolers and future upgrade air filter
components.
We believe that site, duty cycle and financial

'Presented at the Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exposition—June 11-14, 1990—Brussels, Belgium

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 analysis are always necessary for the correct selection
of any high-efficiency air filtration system.
OPERATING CONSIDERATIONS
This paper is confined to non-propulsion gas turbine
applications, and addresses power generation and mech-
anical drive duties as they relate to base load and
non-base load requirements. Accepting the historic
conclusion that high-efficiency air filters are required
for all industrial combustion turbines, then the specific
gas turbine duty and the specific geographical area
should determine the specific type of inlet filtration
system.
Let's assume, for example, that a peaking application
is operating in an environment having a low dust con-
centration of 100 micrograms per cubic meter with an
annual operating time of 300 hours. Using a single-
stage, self-cleaning pulse filter would require 1650
hours or 5.5 years to reach an efficiency of 99.967 on
2 micron particles. In our experience, the majority
of gas turbine sites in the USA have dust concentrations
in the 50 to 175 mg/m 3 range. High-efficiency air
filtration can be very important even in very low dust
concentrations, especially if there is salt and/or
unburned hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. Using a con-
ventional multistage air filter system could provide
an overall efficiency of 99.7% on 2 microns from initial
start-up. Some people might argue that a 2-stage pulse
filter would offer the best solution. However, we
believe that the low ambient dust conditions combined
with this duty cycle would not warrant a pulse filter,
and that a multistage conventional system would prove
to be more economical both in initial cost and continued
operating costs.
Chart N1
GEOGRAPHIC AREA, ENVIRONMENT AND FAULT CHART
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
For this paper we will group geographic locations in
five categories: They are: Urban, Rural/Arctic,
Offshore/Maritime, Desert and Tropical.
Each environment will have a range of dust concentra-
tions, particle size and particle size distribution
as well as particular weather-related factors.
In any discussion of high-efficiency air filters,
particle sizes can be grouped into two main categories.
One group would be those in the 2-5 micron range.
The second group would be in the range below 2 microns.
Group one can be considered having particles of natural
origin containing minerals, etc., while the second
group is generally associated with air pollution result-
ing from industrial processes and the internal combus-
tion engine. The second group generally contains a
high percentage of unburned hydrocarbons. Most environ-
ments will contain a combination of these two base
groups. Both groups will need to be evaluated for and
consider the impact of the following: free water,
water in suspension, salt content and the resultant
dried salt nuclei associated with sea water and road
salt. The phenomenon of salt leaching through various
medias will also require careful examination. Low
temperature environments, especially those with exten-
sive freezing rain, blowing snow and hoarfrost, must
be considered. In these cases, the correct selection
of filter components for the inlet system may also
require provision for continuous operation in extreme
weather conditions.
Air sampling to determine dust concentrations, particle
size distribution and type is becoming popular where
historical data is not available. (See Chart #1)

Particle Particle
Geographic Area Environmental Conditions Concentration Size range Fault
Mg/mi in microns

URBAN Rain, fog, smog, some snow. Fouling

(Major metro- 28° F.to 100 0 F. (-1° C. to +40 0 C.)
politan areas Corrosive chemicals, hydrocarbons, 50-175 0.01 Erosion
with heavy dry corrosive, gummy soot particles, - 30
industry) dried salt. Corrosion

RURAL/ARCTIC Snow, freezing rain, hoarfrost.

(Forest, tundra, -40° F. to 90 0 F. (-40° C to +31° C.) 0.01 Fouling
agriculture) Dry, non-corrosive, fibrous <135 - 10
particles and blowing dust.

OFF-SHORE 8 Wet and dry salt, corrosive

MARITIME particles. Fouling
00 F. to 90 0 F. (-18° C. to +31° C.) 0.01
Blowing rain, sea spray, fog, <135 - 5 Corrosion
snow, ice.

DESERT Dry, sunny. Fouling

30° F. to 120° F. (0° C. to +50° C.)
Sand storms, whirlwinds, >350 0.01 Erosion
dry corrosive particles, salt. - 100
Corrosion

TROPICAL Heavy rainfall.

40° F. to 120 0 F. (+5 0 C. to +50° C.) Fouling
Fibrous, non-corrosive particles, <135 0.01
insects. - 10

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 INLET FILTER HOUSE CONSIDERATIONS
1. Pulse Filters
Low velocity self-cleaning pulse filters have been
widely accepted since their introduction in 1978.
In 1981, Farr Company pioneered the two-stage system
utilizing a rigidly held micro-glass fiber media filter
with 90% efficiency on 1 micron as the secondary filter
The operating principle of self-cleaning filters is
well known, and has been covered in earlier ASME
papers. Probably not so well known or accepted is the
fact that the high efficiency associated with single-
stage self-cleaning pulse systems is dependent on the
accumulation of a dust cake on the filter media. In
addition, the time required to reach the desired high
efficiency will depend not only on the gas turbine
application, i.e., base load or peaking, but also on
the dust type, distribution and concentration.
Further, the type of contaminants in a specific site
micro-environment may result in the pulse filter not
being able to clean properly, resulting in short
element life and a high operating delta-P.
Single-stage self-cleaning pulse filters have been
used successfully in northern rural and arctic areas,
but in almost all cases, the environmental dust load
was low and made up almost entirely of forest, tundra
and agricultural-originated particles measuring
greater than 10 microns, and with an absence of salt.
Also, some single-stage systems are beipg used in
desert environments, but we do not recommend this, as
our tests have shown most deserts to have salt content
up to 3% of the total air contaminants. In areas of
high concentration and where dried salt nuclei are
present, we recommend a secondary high-efficiency
filter. This is also true in extremely wet regions
or conditions where the pulse filter element regularly
goes through a wet-dry sequence. Collected salts
liquify when the self-cleaning pulse filter is wet,
and leach into the clean side of the filter when the
element is dry. Unless a high-efficiency secondary
filter is used, this leached salt finds its way into
the gas turbine, thus contributing to hot corrosion,
or sulfidation.
In an effort to make a self-cleaning pulse filter
desirable as a single-stage filter for all environments
and gas turbine duty, the aftermarket industry has
responded with a variety of new elements and accesso-
ries. These new elements include pre-loading, active
coating, and those made from 100% synthetic media.
Some accessories, such as the element skirt or wrap,
are now all but abandoned by serious users and the OEM
filter house supplier. Also, in the past two or three
years, the industry has seen the development of the
top-to-bottom flow, higher velocity system operating
without a venturi or an eductor. These systems offer
a smaller filter house footprint, and a new air enter-
ing configuration borrowed from the dust collection
industry. The benefits of this type of system, other
than the smaller size, are currently being evaluated
by OEM's and users. The already recognized concerns
are:
1. The need for inlet weather protection systems
2. High system velocities
3. The need to prevent blown ice from building up
in the bottom of the incoming compartment
4. Pulsing ineffectiveness without eductors or
venturis
5. Low initial efficiency
6. High erection costs
7. High operating cost associated with the rotary
air lock dust removal devices
Other high-velocity systems combining the principles
of inertial separation and self-cleaning pulse, again
not using venturis, are also available and offer
smaller package sizes as well. Basic principles of
air movement indicate that if a smaller space is used
to filter the same amount of air, then increased velo-
cities will occur somewhere in the system. The impor-
tance of low velocity through pulse filter media, low
interstitial velocity, and low updraft velocity to
overall pulse filter performance has been thoroughly
documented in Aramco Test Specification 32-AMSS-008. (1)
This test has been accepted as the industry standard
for self-cleaning pulse filters. Farr Company has
complied with this specification since it was first

DESERT APPLICATION
Chart #2
ARAMCO OPERATED SYSTEMS WITH FARR SELF-CLEANING, 2-STAGE PULSE FILTERS

PETROMIN PIPELINE IPSA I & II EAST/WEST RETROFIT

PIPELINE
Generator Generator Generator Pump Generator Puma Pump Generator Generator

Turbine Package Penske Solar Hispano TP&M SOS Nuovo Cooper Westing- GE
Power Suiza Pignone Energy house

Turbine Type Allison 501 Saturn THM-1102 FT4-A9 Allison LM-2500 RB-211 501 Frame 1

No. of Units 7 17 3 33 10 26 22 1 1

Total Air Intake 169,000 204,000 150,000 6,798,000 620,000 3,822,000 4,444,000 620,000 37,800
(cfm)

Media Velocity 2.25 2.50 2.97 2.60 2.69 2.73 2.92 2.93 2.86
(ft/min)

Updraft Velocity 225 250 298 260 323 328 300 3.10 3.44
(ft/min)

Interstitial 404 449 534 467 580 589 485 563 618
Velocity (ft/min)

(1) Bibliography

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 published, and, to date has supplied, or is currently
providing, 120 two-stage self-cleaning pulse systems
on gas turbines owned/managed by Aramco. These systems
are referenced in Chart #2. All have provided excep-
tional gas turbine protection and a long service life
in desert applications, and the benefits of the second
stage have been proven. To our knowledge, the units
have never been overhauled, and some units have in
excess of 35,000 hours operation.
Figure 1: TYPICAL SELF-CLEANING PULSE FILTER ELEMENT
EFFICIENCY VERSUS PARTICLE SIZE
99.994
99.99
99.98
- High-velocity coalescers
- Drainage system
- High-velocity inertial separator
Considering the number of possible components in a
multistage conventional inlet air-filter system, it
might be desirable to discuss all of them. However,
this paper will be limited to a discussion of the
high-efficiency component and will specifically review:
(1) micro-glass fibers in a fully-supported air filter
configuration, and (2) microsynthetic fibers in a non-
supported filter configuration. Item (1) is the
historically proven material and configuration, whereas
item (2) is a relative newcomer to GT high-efficiency
0.006 air filtration.
0.01
Farr Supported Micro-Fiberglass Air Filters Versus
Tested, Non-Supported Micro-Fiber Synthetic Filters
0.02

=
Our tests show that long-term protection of modern
99.96 0.04 gas turbines from harmful contaminants, such as fine
99.94 •■•iui salt aerosol or urban smog, can be achieved by using
0.06
a high-efficiency, fully-supported final filter employ-

I1III
99.9 0.10 ing a media made from ultrafine micro-glass fiber.
The fiber diameters range from 0.67 to 1.1 microns.
99.8
•■■1""'I
0.2
Typically, high-efficiency, non-supported air filters
made from polyester or similar material have a thin
> 99.6 0.4 Z layer of charged micro-fiber. (6)(7) These micro-fibers
0
U 99.4 0.6 - measure from 6 to 10 microns in diameter. Although
I- these electrically charged micro-fibers can provide
W
99 1 some enhanced initial efficiency for sub-micron parti-
U F-
cles (4 0.5 micron), it can be shown that the efficien-
L 98 1400 2 Z
W
W
cy will drop dramatically after only a short period as
W 0 the electrical charge dissipates under the cover of a
96 4
thin dust layer. Also, we have determined that the
charge effect can disappear altogether in high humidity
94 6 situations, or in high temperature storage.
90 10
In reviewing Farr tests (2) , it is clear that the
efficiency of the micro-glass media, fully-supported
80 20
600 air filter is superior to the tested unsupported micro-
400 synthetic media filter. This is particularly true in
60 40 the sub-micron aerosol environment, due primarily to
200 the smaller diameters of micro-glass fiber. The drastic
40 60
drop-off in efficiency on the synthetic media filters
0 T I I 111111 111111 1100 after the initial dust feed is clearly evident. The
0.1 0.2 0.4 0.8 1.0 2 4 6 10 20 filter did not regain its initial efficiency on sub-
micron particles until a thick dust cake had built up
PARTICLE SIZE - MICRON near the end of its useful service life. It is
G-74873-A obvious that the fully-supported microfine fiberglass
media filter offered greater protection against the
contaminants now proving to be most detrimental to
2. Multistage Conventional System Components successful and long-term gas turbine protection,
especially in an urban environment.
Multistage conventional systems are those containing
two or more air-filter stages. Typically, there would In the past year or so in the USA, we have seen gas
be (1) a first stage containing a weather-protection turbine user air filter specifications that call for
device; (2) a second stage with a medium-efficiency "hydrophobic" medias. However, our search of current
panel filter; and (3) a third stage containing a high- published gas turbine air filter literature has failed
efficiency filter. Often the second-stage and third- to find this word used in any text. We believe it
stage filters share a common holding frame. probably came from the disgruntled users of high-
efficiency after-filters living with the problem of
The first-stage weather protective section would water carry-over caused by higher than recommended
include one or more of the following components. velocities on purchased air filtration systems, or
The selection would depend entirely on the general filter installations that didn't consider the need
geographical area, or the specific site micro-environ- for moisture removal, including fog. Filters made
ment. from micro-synthetic fiber medias and those from micro-
fine glass fiber medias are both "hydrophobic".
- Hoods
- Louvers (2) Bibliography
- Screens (6) Bibliography
- Low-velocity moisture separators (7) Bibliography

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 In any event, our experience has indicated the
importance of keeping the high-efficiency air filter
dry for optimum results. In high humidity situations,
the need for the high-efficiency filter integrity is a
must. Fully-supported, high-efficiency gas turbine air
filters provide an optimum and stable pleat shape. As
the physical characteristics of glass fibers are not
affected by moisture, these filters outperform and
maintain higher efficiency over filters made from
synthetic fibers. It is common knowledge that poly-
ester and similar synthetic fibers can absorb a
considerable amount of moisture that will change the
fiber structure and performance through fiber swelling
and elimination of the electrical charge. Please see
Figure 2 below.
MULTISTAGE CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM EXPERIENCE
Public Service Electric & Gas Company (3)
Field tests have shown that the performance of an
aircraft-derivative combustion turbine will degrade
approximately 8.0% before reaching shop repair erosion
limits. Considering this as a straight line function
would mean an average 4.0% performance loss between
compressor repairs. Similarly, compressor fouling,
like compressor erosion, can be considered a straight
line function. Here again, tests show that the average
performance loss between compressor cleaning due to
fouling is one-half the performance improvement
observed after cleaning. Depending on site conditions
and the number of operating hours before cleaning,
performance improvement can exceed 10%.
FIGURE 2: COMPARISON BETWEEN FARR FULLY-SUPPORTED'TYPE 200 MICRO-FIBER GLASS MEDIA FILTER
-_ VS. NON-SUPPORTED MICRO-FIBER PLASTIC MEDIA FILTER USING TWO SEPARATE FILTER MANUFACTURERS.
-.
AIR FLOW: 2000 CFM (3400 M 3 /HR.)
FACE VELOCITY: 500 PPM (152.4 M/MTN.)__.
DUST; LOAD: 0, 50, 60„ 100, 17,0, 13,O,.AND 175 G.
FARR LAB TESTS #6379AND!#6455 I 1
W 1- f_- "+ I -+
ft_ __
^_: _ r
___
ter t ,— —
O —
-' -- - __,— . _
a/ 02 43 a¢ aS
AEROSOL
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Combustion turbine operators who experience engine
sulfidation will benefit the most from high-efficiency
inlet air filters. (4) High-efficiency filters
effectively reduce the sulfidation process by:
1. Eliminating approximately 95% of all airborne salt.
2. Eliminating compressor erosion and reducing
compressor fouling, thereby reducing firing
temperatures and hot spot metal temperatures.
3. Reducing blade fouling and vane cooling passages
and hot spot temperatures.
4. Reducing erosion of hot section sacrificial
coatings by removing almost 100% of all erosive
particles in the inlet airstream. Due to carbon
particles formed during the combustion process,
erosion of coatings will continue, but at a
reduced rate. The extension of the time between
carbo-blasting of fouled compressors will also
act to reduce erosion of sacrificial coatings.
Public Service Electric & Gas Company conducted a
side-by-side 1300 hour test of four aircraft-derivative
turbines rated at 20,000 KW each. New and clean
engines were used, all burning No. 2 fuel from the same
fuel supply manifold. Two engines were fitted with a
Farr inlet filter house containing a low-velocity MZ
moisture separator, drainage system, and the rigidly
held GT/HP100 high-efficiency air filter, and two were
not. The four engines were operated identically in
every respect, including stopping and starting at the
,--_ a r
T —,— a
F— ,
+^ -FVI
MICRO GLASS-MEDIAL-
MFR. #1 UNSUPPORTED POI.YESTE
MTCR0 FIBER'liEOA
- MFR. #2 UNSUPPORTED -POESTE
W
--^--- MICRO FIBER MEMIA,
4— 5 1D
DIAMETER, MICRONS
 same time, and running at the same base load rating.
This test showed that the high-efficiency filtered
engines had a 51% lower shop repair cost on sulfida-
tion refurbishment. No credit was given for improved
heat rate and power output due to reduced sulfidation.
Although this credit is substantial, sulfidation
performance degradation is not a straight line function,
and was omitted for reasons of simplicity and conserva-
tism.
On the above test, the filter house pressure drop
with new/clean elements was less than 0.9" w.g. with
a recommended filter changeout of 1.5" w.g. Consider-
ing that this rate of increase is a straight line
function, it would show an average pressure drop of
1.2" w.g. The associated heat rate loss was less than
0.6% and would be similar for all standard gas turbines.
This test also showed that the first stage, low-velo-
city Farr moisture separators effectively prevented
fog and rain from entering the inlet plenum and kept
the high-efficiency filters dry. We consider this to
be very important and a major contributor to the final
results.
Using an extrapolation of the collected data and
calculating the results by using a Farr GT/HP200 final
filter, we have determined that there would have been
a reduction of 90% on shop repair costs for sulfida-
tion refurbishment. The average pressure drop would
have been 1.25" w.g., and the associated heat rate
loss would be 0.6%.
LM-5000 Installations in Southern California
We have considerable air filter experience on four
separate LM-5000 powered cogeneration sites in
Southern California. The initial installation used
the trendy, self-cleaning, low-velocity pulse filters,
and the later installations were multistage filters.
Farr Company conducted air sampling tests and proved
that the micro-environment at these sites featured
regular morning fogs, airborne salts, and unburned
hydrocarbons. The dust concentrations were from 50
to 175 micrograms per cubic meter. Tests included
sites in both the industrial valleys and metropolitan
Los Angeles. Typically, the industrial valley dust
concentrations of 175 micrograms per cubic meter
contained up to 50% unburned hydrocarbon.
Chart #3
Filter Efficiency on Standardized Fine T t^ Dust
Particle Size Range i of HP-200
(microns) Total Efficiency
0-5 391 99.60
5-10 18% 99.92
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The early use of pulse filters in this area proved what
we had expected:
1. In the low dust concentration, the initial
pulse filter efficiency was inadequate.
2. The high percentage of sticky and gooey, unburned
hydrocarbons impacted the pulse filter media
and made it difficult to clean to the recommended
delta-P.
3. The trapped dirt absorbed the regular morning
fogs, temporarily raising the delta-P.
4. There was a short element life.
Our answer to these problems was to recommend a multi-
stage filter house containing a weather-protection
section of 4" louvers complete with bird screens and
a second-stage 99% efficient on 4 micron pleated panel
filter in a common frame with a third-stage 98%
efficient on 1 micron high-efficiency microglass fiber
media, rigidly held filter. The fourth stage, identi-
cal to the third stage, was behind the three-stage
evaporative cooler, and held in a separate frame.
Using an evaporative cooler dictated the need for a
stainless steel housing and filter frames. Using this
filtration system effectively removed all contaminants
from the intake air. This is based on the assumption
that the particle size distribution of the contaminants
is approximately the same as standardized air cleaner
fine test dust. Our ambient air sampling has shown
this to be a good assumption, except in those areas
where the unbyrned hydrocarbon represents more than
39% of the intake air contaminants. The above state-
ment is based on the results shown in Chart #3.
The use of this type of system eliminated all the
air filtration problems in a most economical manner.
In this atmosphere, and with an average dust concentra-
tion of 100 micrograms per cubic meter, the pre-filters
would have a service life of 2266 hours, the second-
stage 1850 hours, and the third-stage 12,000 hours.
Using an LM-5000 airflow of 250,000 cfm, and operating
8000 hours a year, the total annual air filter replace-
ment cost would be less than 7.6 cents per cfm. The
average delta-P on this air filter system was 2.0" w.g.
The single-stage pulse filter replacement cost in this
environment was approximately 9.6 cents per cfm, based
on an $000 hour service life, as had been experienced.
The avt^rage delta-P on this system was 1.75" w.g.
We assua 4. that the replacement filter labor cost would
be the saw*, for both systems.
(Typical Urban Site)
Two HP-200
In-Series Dust Concentration Contaminant Reaching
Efficiency to Turbine the Turbine Inlet
99.9984 50 microgram/cubic meter 0.00067 ppb
(41.6 ppb)
99.999936 300 microgram/cubic meter 0.00016 ppb
(249.8 ppb)
 It should be noted that the initial cost of a multi- REFERENCES
stage filter house is 30% less than the initial cost
of a low-velocity, self-cleaning, two-stage pulse 1. Aramco Test Specification #32-AMSS-008
system. This is based on the same airflow capacity. (5)
2. Farr Lab Tests #G-74873-A, #6379, and #6455
It has been shown that a multistage system as described
above can reduce contaminants to the turbine to a level 3. Energy Services, Inc. "Combustion Turbine
of .00067 ppb in a 50 microgram per cubic meter dust High Efficiency Inlet Air Filter Economic
concentration environment, and .00016 ppb in a 300 mg/m 3 Analysis"
environment. Published GE specs for the LM-5000 intake
shows an allowable maximum of total solids to be no 4. ASME Paper No. 76-GT-59 "Gas Turbine Air
more than 18 ppm. This covers air, fuel, water, and Filtration - A Means of Sulfidation Control"
steam. Having inlet air filtered to .00067 ppb provides
a significant credit to offset the more difficult to 5. ASME Paper No. 89-GT-174 "Installation of
control steam contaminants. Refurbished Gas Turbines for Utility
Application Using State-of-the-Art Improvements"
CONCLUSION
6. Viledon Bulletin #LMP 04686-GB
We conclude that high final filter efficiency, plus
the correct match of the air filter system to the 7. Altair Filters Int. Publication, "HV2 Bag
environment and duty, is necessary for optimum gas Efficiency"
turbine protection and cost-effective operation.

Our recommendations for air filter system types matched

to the environment/geographic areas discussed in this
paper are:

Geographic Area Air Filter Type

1-URBAN Low face velocity (500 fpm) moisture

separator delivering 99% efficiency
on 20 micron droplet size, mounted
90 0 to the airflow and complete with
drainage system, pleated secondary
filter (99% eff. on 4 micron), and a
fully-supported micro-glass fiber
media final filter (99% eff. on 1
micron). The secondary and final
filters will be held in a common
holding frame module. Inlet hoods/
louvers and screens are optional.

2-RURAL/ARCTIC Single-stage self-clenaing pulse

filter. Optional second stage rigid-
ly held microfine glass fiber filter
(90% eff. on 1 micron).

3-OFFSHORE/MARITIME Same as urban in areas of infrequent

freezing. If dust concentrations
approach 350 micrograms per cubic
meter, then an inertial separator is
recommended.

4-DESERT Two-stage self-cleaning air filter

system with the second stage a
fully-supported microglass fiber
filter (90% eff. on 1 micron).

5-TROPICAL 901 inlet hood complete with insect

screens, low-velocity moisture
separator complete with drainage
system as in Item 1, pleated panel
filter as in Item 1, and high-
efficiency filter as in Item 4.
Secondary and final filters can be
held in a common holding frame
module.

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