Plant & Performance Impacts

How does an AFS upgrade change my gas turbine’s emissions?

The lower minimum load enabled by AFS improves turndown economics, which could result in fewer annual starts, thereby reducing cumulative start-up emissions. In addition, AFS leads to reduced per-start emissions because the gas turbine can reach emissions-compliant operation at a lower load.

How does an AFS upgrade impact the way I operate my gas turbine?

AFS enables a significantly expanded load range of emissions-compliant operation, from as low as 26% to a full 100% baseload. This can result in operating profiles with fewer starts and more hours.

AFS retains current gas turbine baseload performance. The firing temperature and performance profile can be unaffected for gas fuel units running at full load. The heat rate and efficiency are also maintained for baseload operations.

Improved turndown economics, due to reduced fuel burn at minimum emissions-compliant load, enables new operating profiles.

How does an AFS upgrade affect my fuel flexibility options?

For dual fuel units, the AFS upgrade should maintain your plant’s baseload performance for gas fuel, and performance for the increased turndown. For liquid fuels, the AFS injector would be unfueled, so there is a modest derate associated with this fuel type.

Full load performance is maintained for gas-only units.

Does an AFS upgrade affect the maintenance of my gas turbine?

There is no expected maintenance factor change as a direct result of an AFS upgrade. AFS may result in fewer starts, so it could reduce your starts-based maintenance requirements.

Does running at extended turndown change the maintenance requirements?

Prolonged operation at turndown can potentially impact the exhaust system due to the time at temperature and increased swirl angles. GE can help your plant manage this potential impact with our exhaust frame maintenance solutions.

Will implementing AFS in my 7F gas turbine affect other parts of my plant?

There are no expected major impacts to other parts of the plant because of an AFS upgrade, including the HRSG or the steam turbine. For combined cycle plants, the AFS enabled extended turndown of the gas turbine gives room to explore how the steam turbine and HRSG can also be configured to enable turndown for the entire plant.