ABSTRACT
In the effort to improve performance and lower fuel consumption and emissions, secondary problems are often created. Two examples are: the injection of steam or water into the combustor to increase power output and decrease fuel consumption, and the installation of evaporative coolers or fogger systems in the gas turbine inlet to reduce temperature and increase power output. Since site conditions may change during the life of the gas turbine plant, it is advisable to periodically test the environment and the effectiveness of the inlet filter system. The filter selection should be matched to the site environment, the gas turbine type, and economics. Turbine inlet temperature is a limiting factor in all gas turbines, regardless of design configuration. The evaporative cooler is a cost-effective way to recover capacity during periods of high temperature and low or moderate relative humidity. Chillers, unlike evaporative coolers, are not limited by the ambient wet bulb temperature.
