1

Salient Energy Bio-Conversion Processes Limiting Gas Turbine Engine Performance Efficiency

Tosin Onabanjo*; Giuseppina Di Lorenzo

School of Energy, Environmental and Agrifood (SEEA), Cranfield University

2Outline

— Background on Bio-conversion

— Industry Overview

— Research Barriers

— Next Steps in Predictive Condition Monitoring

3Bio-conversion (1)

The conversion of organic matter, into a source of energy through the action of microorganisms.

Organic Matter

Carbon Source

Energy

Definition

4Bio-conversion (2)

microbial fuel cell

anaerobic digestion

fermentation

bioremediation

Concept of Bioenergy

5Bio-conversion (3)

Hydrocarbon loss

Sludge accumulation

Induced corrosion

Physiological changes

Chemical changes

Observed effects

6Bio-conversion (4)

Component FailureInjectors, Filters, Fuel line, Wall Liner, Blade fouling

Reduced Engine Performance

Increased smoke tendency and particulate emissions

7Industry Overview (1)

1895

Firs

t

reporte

d

1956

In JP

-4 Fu

els

Series of

incidence

1941

Bulk st

ored

fuels

2003

Fuel-wate

r In

terp

hase &

Biocid

es1988

Bio

-surfa

ctant p

roduct

ion

1979

meta

bolite p

roduct

ion

2010

Sludge fo

rmatio

n/filte

r

pluggin

g

1983

Bulk st

orage w

ith lo

w turn

over rate

s

¬35 day

s

1998

Select

ive d

egradatio

n

2007

MIC

1980

Biofilm

sm

ilitary

aircraft naval

engines

Marine

engines

2004

W

ater i

s ess

ential

2012

Biodie

sel f

uel pro

lifera

tion

History

8Industry Overview (2)

Bacteria

l

conta

min

ation

Larg

e ci

rcula

ting

syst

ems

in S

team

Turb

ines

Engin

es o

perat

ing

Biofu

els

Mar

ine

Engin

es

Engin

es o

perat

ing o

n fuel

s

with

low tu

rn o

ver r

ates

*

Engin

es o

perat

ing

in w

arm

clim

ate

Engine D

egradatio

n

more at risk

engines

History to Future

9Industry Overview (3)

Microbes: bacteria, mould, yeasts

Mechanisms of contamination: rust,

dust, soil, air, water, fuel

Mechanisms of hydrocarbon

degradation: aerobic, anaerobic, acid-

producing, symbiotic

Successes & Challenges

10

Industry Overview (4)

Ecology: fuel-water interphase

Bio-surfactant, Biofilms

TEA: O2, NO3, SO4, CO2

Growth factors: pH, Temp., Water,

nutrients, enhancer/inhibitor

By-products: sludge, sulphide, water,

CO2

Biocides

Successes & Challenges

11

Industry Overview (5)

Good Handling Practices

Biocide Application

Water Elimination

Routine Inspection

Successes & Challenges

12

Research Barriers (1)

How much degradation occurs during an opportunistic window of growth

Opportunistic gap

Water consistent in fuels

Complex microbial systems

Asymptomatic reactions

13

Research Barriers (2)

Hydrocarbon loss –degree?

Sludge accumulation – microbial % and chemical %?

Induced corrosion – microbial %

Physiological changes – Sig.?

Chemical changes – Sig.?

14

Research Barriers (3)

Component FailureInjectors, Filters, Fuel line, Wall Liner, Blade fouling

Reduced Engine Performance

Increased smoke tendency and particulate emissions

Metal Corrosion

Degree?

15

Research Barriers (4)

Root Cause Analysis

Microbes identification

Detection (simple to complex)

Control including biocides

x Reactive

x Symptomatic

x Cost intensive

x Cause-effect relationship

Traditional approach

Microbiological Examinations Engineering

x Misdiagnosis

x Non-detection

x Parallel research

x Underestimation/Overestimation

x Drug resistance

16

Next Steps for Predictive Condition Monitoring (1)

Systematic Analysis

Root cause analysis –advance microbiology techniques

Modelling: fuel chemical kinetics, microbial kinetics, abiotic factors, bio-energetics

Gross observation –representative sampling

Engineering

x Proactive

x Reduce downtime

x Reduced associated cost

x Increased understanding

x Predictive maintenance and condition monitoring

x Reduced pressure on microbial evolution

Optimized approach

17

Next Steps for Predictive Condition Monitoring (2)

First time development of an engine bio-fouling model

• Estimate hydrocarbon loss

• Relate to engine performance and emission analysis

PowerEnergy2015-49657 July 01, 2015    01:00 PM - 02:45 PM Application of BIO-fAEG, a biofouling assessment model in gas turbines …

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