GT-SIM Fouling

The gas turbine rating model in Petro-SIM predicts the performance of a gas turbine under varying loads and operating conditions, assuming the condition of the mechanical parts to be at a new, undamaged, unfouled state. However, the performance of gas turbines normally starts to deteriorate almost as soon as it starts operation such that the gas turbine can no longer be termed new after 200hrs of operation. As a result, without accounting for such losses in performance, the prediction can only match actual performance accurately when the gas turbine is in its early hours of operation after installation or after a complete overhaul.

Loss in performance is attributable to

• Deposition of fouling substances on compressor and turbine blades
• Machine wear

The GT Fouling feature in Petro-SIM 6.2 allows the effect of these two characteristics on gas turbine performance to be determined when the user provides the GT hours of operation since installation or since the last major overhaul and an indication of how much of the loss is due to deposition fouling (recoverable losses).