Overview

Well-designed air inlet filter houses safeguard your gas turbine system’s critical components from foreign object ingestion, blade erosion, compressor fouling, and corrosion caused by salts, particulates, and chemicals. They also help ensure uniform airflow that supports reliable turbine performance and operational efficiency.

Donaldson designs and manufactures modular air inlet structures and systems for large turbines (up to 1.2 million cfm/2 million m3/h), small turbines, microturbines, and industrial compressors for multiple fuel types. We work directly with gas turbine OEMs and site operators worldwide on custom filter housings and systems for both new and retrofit situations.

Your system’s operating environment, load demand, and operational objectives are the primary considerations when determining the well-suited air inlet configuration.

 

Static Systems

Static inlet houses for gas turbines are appropriate for areas where dust levels are low to moderate. The filter houses can feature a number of filter configurations and combinations including pre-filters designed to remove larger particles – even moisture – to help extend the life of the system’s final filters. The final filters capture the fine particulate and contaminants before they are able to reach the turbine or industrial compressor. Static filters feature depth loading media that permits contaminants to settle into the media until the system’s differential pressure requires attention.

 

Pulse Systems

Pulse-cleaning filter houses for gas turbines utilize bursts of compressed air to clean the filter media. The pulsed air helps remove accumulated dust and particulate from the filters. This self-cleaning system is designed to help maintain consistent airflow by cleaning  sections or modules one at a time. The system’s filters typically feature surface loading media that captures and holds contaminants on the surface of the media until the system’s pulse of compressed air knocks the dust off allowing it to fall into the hopper below where it may be pulsed again after the cleaning cycle is complete.

 

GDX

GDX systems are well-suited for challenging operating environments that combine high airflow turbines and high dust levels. The horizontally mounted filters capture fine particulate and are easily pulse cleaned to support longer service intervals depending on operating conditions.

 

TTD

TTD systems feature vertically mounted filters and a self-cleaning design that helps reduce routine maintenance needs. The flexible configuration provides effective filtration in a variety of dust and load environments including coastal, urban, desert, and arctic.

 

Primary Components of Gas Turbine Air Inlet Housings

  • Weather protection: inlet hoods, louvers, bird/insect screens
  • Prefiltration: coarse or coalescing filters for larger particles and moisture
  • Final filtration: high-efficiency static filters or cartridge elements
  • Moisture management: marine vanes, mist eliminators, drainage systems
  • Pulse-cleaning system (if equipped): pulse valves, manifolds, and controls
  • Heating and cooling options: anti-icing heaters, evaporative coolers, fogging or chilling modules
  • Acoustic control: inlet silencers and sound-attenuating panels
  • Structural and access features: housings, walkways, service doors, filter frames
  • Monitoring and instrumentation: differential pressure gauges, temperature and humidity sensors

 

Donaldson engineers and technicians can work with you to recommend and install filtration solutions matched to your efficiency requirements, output demands, and operating environment.