Performance analysis and enhancement of GE LM6000PC gas turbine-based power generation in Bangladesh; an approach to increase the offline water wash cycle interval

In Bangladesh, several gas turbine-based power plants often desynchronized from the national grid and remain in shutdown condition due to unstable grid frequency, lower electricity demand in the cold season, inclement weather etc. The main objective of this paper is to utilize those shutdown periods to lengthen off-line water wash cycle interval of gas turbines and to increase electricity generation. Two units of GE LM6000PC gas turbine has selected for this study. Since its initiation in 1998, the LM6000PC gas turbine has undergone a series of successful factory tests and several turbines have begun commercial operation. This paper provides an update of the LM6000PC performance and operating characteristics in Bangladesh, based upon data recorded in Max Power Limited’s test facilities completed in 2018. It has found that a series of 3 hot water rinsing at 75-80 °C after every 120 hours of operation time can increase the water wash cycle interval by 33.3% of the original time. About 9% of energy has recovered that was lost due to the continuous running of a dirty compressor. The overall engine performance improved rapidly with hot water rinsing and yearly cost for water wash has reduced by 25%.