GEK 101944b

Revised June 2002

GE Power Systems
Gas Turbine

Requirements for Water/Steam Purity in Gas Turbines

(GEK 107230 Provides The Requirements for FB and H Gas Turbines)

These instructions do not purport to cover all details or variations in equipment nor to provide for
every possible contingency to be met in connection with installation, operation or maintenance. Should
further information be desired or should particular problems arise which are not covered sufficiently for
the purchaser’s purposes the matter should be referred to the GE Company.
© 2002 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
GEK 101944b Requirements for Water/Steam Purity in Gas Turbines

I. INTRODUCTION

This document provides the requirements for water/steam purity for injection into all GE gas turbines ex-
cept Classes FB or H. Impurity limits for water and steam injection into FB and H gas turbines, specified
in GEK 107230, are more stringent than the limits in this document.

Water and/or steam is injected into the combustion system for NOx control and/or power augmentation, in
quantities comparable to fuel flow rates, and must meet strict criteria for purity similar to those required
for gas turbine fuels. Furthermore, water/steam chemistries must be compatible with the materials used in
the piping that bring the fluids to the turbine.

Water/steam, fuel and air all carry contaminants that can cause serious damage to hot gas path components
if the levels at which they are present are not controlled. This document identifies the contaminant limits
for water/steam entering gas turbines. Ultimately, the total contaminant loading allowed is determined by
the fuel specifications (GEl 41047H, for liquid fuel, and GEI 41040G, for gas fuel), which identify all
contaminants entering a gas turbine from all sources. The concern for any contaminants entering the hot
gas path is two-fold: 1) will they cause hot corrosion, as for example do sodium and potassium salts, and
2) will they cause deposits, as for example, do calcium salts and silica.

Water also enters gas turbines with the compressor air. This may occur naturally as from water ingestion
in coastal or marine locations, or from rain, or from water produced when humid air is cooled below its
dew point at the compressor inlet and a fog develops. Finally, water can enter a compressor as a result of
carryover from such devices as moisture separators or evaporative coolers. Discussion of inlet air treatment
is discussed in GER 3419. The effects of water on compressor materials are discussed in GER 3601. The
water purity requirements for evaporative coolers are separate from the water quality requirements for water
injection and are given in GEK 107158a.

Of course, water of evaporation adds no contaminants to the incoming air, but carry-over water adds to the
contaminants contained in the air/water/fuel stream.

Additional sources of water-born contaminants that enter the turbine are referenced in the following-doc-
uments: compressor and turbine washing (GEK 107122, GEl 41042 or GEK 103623), and water for dis-
solving Epsom salt, the heavy fuel vanadium inhibitor (GEK 28122).

II. INJECTION WATER/STEAM SPECIFICATION

The maximum total dissolved solids plus total suspended solids of injected steam or water (or a mixture)
must be less than 5 ppmw. In addition, specific limits on impurities that could damage hot section compo-
nents are applied.

All flows (air, water/steam, and fuel) into the turbine contribute to the contaminants in the combustion
gases, and hence to corrosion and deposits in the hot gas path. The allowable purity of water/steam for
gas turbine injection is thus dependent upon the level of impurities in the fuel. Table 1 specifies the limits
of the impurities in the air/water/fuel mixture that enter the combustors. Equation 1 provides a means of
determining the total impurities in combustion gas mixture if the impurity contents of air, water/steam and
fuel and their respective flow rates are know. Using the limits in Table 1 and Equation 1 to calculate the
total impurity limit, one determines the maximum impurity limits for the water/steam.

Equation 1. (A / F) Xa + (W / F) Xw + Xf = Total air+water/steam+fuel contamination

(ppmw), referred to the fuel concentration.

2
Requirements for Water/Steam Purity in Gas Turbines GEK 101944b

where A, W, F are air, water and fuel flows (lbs/sec), respective; and Xa, Xw, Xf are air, water and fuel
contaminant concentrations (ppmw), respectively. Examples of this calculation are shown in Appendices
A and B.

Standard analytical methods for water and steam analysis are given in Table 2. Although no standard
method exists for sampling compressor air, EPA 40 CFR 50 gives a number of methods for sampling par-
ticulate. Chemical analysis would be according to EPA 200.7 for particular contaminants.

If fuel purity is not known then the water purity equivalent to clean boiler condensate (with less than 0.2
µS/cm cation conductivity and less than 0.02 ppmw alkali metals) or demineralized make-up water (with
less than 0.2 µS/cm specific conductivity and less than 0.02 ppmw alkali metals) is required. The injected
steam must meet the requirements of GEK 98965. Volatile additives such as ammonia, morpholine, or
cyclohexlamine are permitted for condensate pH control of the source of the steam. These additives do not
add to the alkali burden of the turbine, and will not accumulate in piping, valves, etc.

Water treated with sodium compounds for pH or oxygen control should not be used for injection into gas
turbines or for attemperation of steam used for injection into gas turbines. Such water can lead to high
sodium in the air/water/fuel mixture and cause corrosion of the hot gas path components. It may also lead
to stress corrosion cracking of piping equipment. It should be appreciated that very dilute solutions of some
additives become concentrated during operation, through stagnation and evaporation.

This is especially true of NaOH. Attemperation water, containing NaOH, has produced caustic deposits in
316 stainless steel flex hose by evaporation, resulting in cracking. Units in which this has occurred have
reported fuel nozzle deposits, first stage nozzle deposits, and bucket corrosion.

Deposit formation in the turbine from contaminants in injection water is also a concern. In demineral-
ization ion exchange systems, a special situation may arise in the case of silica. Silica absorbed by the
anion exchanger may not be completely removed during regeneration causing it to accumulate. Eventu-
ally, leakage will occur, allowing silica discharge into the effluent and into the turbine. Such occurrences
have led to combustion liner hole plugging and forced outages. Prevention of silica breakthrough requires
longer regeneration times at higher temperatures, and effluent monitoring. Ion exchange manufacturers
should be-consulted. Another problem arises if silica is present in a colloidal form. In this form it can pass
through ion exchangers and it cannot be detected by conductivity measurements. Water treatment experts
should be consulted. They can make recommendations concerning proper treatment.

III. APPLICABLE REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

GEl 41047H Gas Turbine Liquid Fuel Specification

GEl 41040G Process Specification, Fuel Gases For Combustion in Heavy-Duty Gas Turbines
GER 3419 Gas Turbine Inlet Air Treatment
GER 3601 Gas Turbine Compressor Operating Environment and Material Evaluation
GEl 41042 Gas Turbine and Compressor Cleaning
GEK 103623 Gas Turbine Compressor Washing
GEK 28122 Specification For Magnesium Sulfate For Gas Turbine
GEK 98965 Steam Purity For Industrial Turbines
GEK 107158a Water Supply Requirements for Gas Turbine Inlet Air Evaporative Coolers
Nalco Water Handbook, Frank N. Kemmer, Editor, McGraw-Hill, Second Edition, 1988

3
GEK 101944b Requirements for Water/Steam Purity in Gas Turbines

Table 1. Trace Metal Contaminant Specification Maximum Limits, All Sources

Contaminant Contaminant Limit (ppmw) Referred

to the Fuel(1)
Sodium plus Potassium 1.0
Lead 1.0
Vanadium 0.5
Calcium 2.0
(1) The tabulated limits in parts per million by weight (ppmw) are for A / F = 50. For other A / F
ratios multiply the tabulated limits by ((A / F + 1) / 51). The total contamination referred to the fuel
from all sources is determined from Equation 1.

Table 2. Standard Analytical Methods for Water/Steam

Method
Trace Metals: EPA 200.7
Sodium plus Potassium(1) EPA 200.7
Calcium
Total Solids: EPA 160.1
Total dissolved solids EPA 160.2
Total suspended solids
(1) Other metals not normally encountered in water/steam but found in fuel oils, such as vanadium and
lead, or other alkali metals such as lithium, are also to be included.

4
Requirements for Water/Steam Purity in Gas Turbines GEK 101944b

APPENDIX A

Water and Steam Purity Calculations to Determine if Water Purity is Adequate

Liquid Fuel with Water Injection with water/fuel ratio of 0.5 and air/fuel ratio of 50.

Example Liquid fuel impurity Example Air Impurity Content Example Water Impurity Content
content
Na + K 0.5 ppmw Na+K 0.001 ppmw Na+K 0.25 ppmw
Lithium 0.05 ppmw Ca 0.002 ppmw Ca 1.5 ppmw
Lead 0.2 ppmw Si 0.002 ppmw
Vanadium 0.1 ppmw
Calcium 0.5 ppmw

Na+K (incl. other alkali metals):

Required: (A / F) Xa + (W / F) Xw + Xf <= 1.0 ppmw Na+K

Measured: (50)( 0.001) + (0.5)( 0.25) + (0.55 Na+K + 0.05 Li) = 0.73 ppmw Na+K+Li

The sodium plus potassium content of the water meets the requirement.

V:

Since there is no V content in the water, the water meets the requirement.

Ca:

Required: (A / F) Xa + (W / F) Xw + Xf <= 2.0 ppmw Ca

Measured: (50)( 0.002) + (0.5)( 1.5) + 0.5 = 1.25 ppmw Ca

The calcium content of the water meets the requirement.

5
GEK 101944b Requirements for Water/Steam Purity in Gas Turbines

APPENDIX B

Water and Steam Purity Calculations to Establish Maximum Water Limits

Liquid Fuel with Water Injection with water/fuel ratio of 0.5 and air/fuel ratio of 50.

Example Liquid fuel impurity content Example Air Impurity Content

Na + K 0.5 ppmw Na+K 0.001 ppmw
Lithium 0.05 ppmw Ca 0.002 ppmw
Lead 0.2 ppmw Si 0.002 ppmw
Vanadium 0.1 ppmw
Calcium 0.5 ppmw

Na+K limit (incl. other alkali metals):

(A / F) Xa + (W / F) Xw + Xf = 1.0

Xw =(F/W)(1.0-(A / F) Xa- Xf)

Xw = (2)(1.0-50*0.001-0.50-0.05) = 0.8 ppmw Na+K

The maximum limit of Na + K plus other alkali metals in injected water is 0.8 ppmw.

V limit:

(A / F) Xa + (W / F) Xw + Xf = 0.5

Xw =(F/W)(0.5-(A / F) Xa- Xf)

Xw = (2)(0.5-0.1) = 0.8 ppmw V

The maximum limit of V in injected water is 0.8 ppmw. (V is not usually found in water)

Ca limit:

(A / F) Xa + (W / F) Xw + Xf = 2.0

Xw =(F/W)(2.0-(A / F) Xa- Xf)

Xw = (2)(2.0-50*0.002-0.5) = 2.8 ppmw Ca

The maximum limit of Ca in injected water is 2.8 ppmw.

6
Requirements for Water/Steam Purity in Gas Turbines GEK 101944b

This page is intentionally left blank.

7
GE Power Systems
General Electric Company
One River Road, Schenectady, NY 12345
518 • 385 • 2211 TX: 145354