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Bleed valve function
Bleed valve function
What is the significance of Bleed Valve operation from start up to full loading a Gas Turbine?
By Anonymous on 11 January, 2007 - 12:54 am
What is the significance of Bleed Valve operation from start up to full loading a Gas Turbine?
By markvguy on 12 January, 2007 - 12:38 am
3 out of 3 members thought this post was helpful...
"Bleed valve" is another one of those poor American English terms for a valve which is meant to
siphon off a portion of the flow from another system.
A GE-design heavy-duty gas turbine employs compressor bleed valves to protect the axial compressor
during start-up and shutdown against stalling and surging conditions. These valves are typically only
open during acceleration to rated speed and deceleration from rated speed. Newer heavy-duty gas
turbine with complex combustion system arrangements designed to limit emission of harmful gases
also employ the compressor bleed valves during very light loading to limit the amount of air entering
the combustor.
Compressor bleed valves discharge into the gas turbine exhaust duct. Compressor bleed valves are
generally closed during normal operation (with the previous exception) since "dumping" axial
compressor discharge into the exhaust reduces efficiency (but it's MANDATORY during start-up and
acceleration to protect the compressor!). Compressor bleed valves are generally either fully open or
fully closed; they are not modulated.
GE-design heavy-duty gas turbines also employ inlet bleed heat valves to recirculate a portion of the
axial compressor discharge back to the inlet of the axial compressor for a variety of functions. One
application uses them to heat the inlet air to prevent icing on the compressor inlet (appropriately called
anti-icing protection); another application uses inlet bleed heat to protect the axial compressor when the
IGVs (axial compressor Inlet Guide Vanes) are closed below the "normal" operating conditions
("normal" being before complicated combustion systems designed to limit exhaust emissions were
invented).
Inlet bleed heat control valves are modulated to control the amount of air recirculated back to the axial
compressor inlet. Recirculating axial compressor discharge back to the inlet is also inefficient, but is
generally limited to approximately 5% of rated air flow through the compressor--and necessary to
protect the compressor at low IGV angles. Inlet bleed heat valves are generally closed before the unit
reaches rated load (except for anti-icing protection) and should be closed during rated power output
(Base Load) operation (except for anti-icing protection).
If you require more information, your question isn't exactly clear--are you asking about compressor
bleed valves or inlet bleed heat valves or?.?.? Or just bleed valves in general?
markvguy
By neepco_agt on 13 January, 2007 - 5:12 pm
I was asking about compressor bleed valve. In our case, its a 21 MW mark v controlled GE gas
turbine.
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By J.Das on 17 August, 2007 - 11:02 am
Compressor bleed valve is a preventive measure of compressor soaking and compressor surging. For
further details, please search for compressor soaking on google.com.
By John Blackburn on 1 November, 2010 - 2:52 pm
With respect to aircraft gas turbines, during take-off & landing up to an altitude where bird ingestion
is possible - are the bleed valves open or closed?
Regards,
JohnB
By ahdash
on 26 September, 2015 - 11:16 am
it is closed 100%.
By nivesh on 13 September, 2015 - 1:34 am
Need more information on compressor bleed value. what is the use of bleed air in IGV? and when it
was developed and its main application?
By CSA
on 13 September, 2015 - 6:13 pm
0 out of 2 members thought this post was helpful...
Need more information about the turbine you are referring to. Different manufacturers have different
schemes and to properly reply to your query you need to tell us what turbine you are referring to.
Also, if you're referring to GE-design heavy duty gas turbines there are several good answers above.
By Mohsin Hasan on 7 October, 2015 - 10:23 am
>Compressor bleed valves are generally closed
>during normal operation (with the previous exception) since
>"dumping" axial compressor discharge into the exhaust
>reduces efficiency
How does it reduces efficiency? If they are opened during normal operation, what would be the
impact?
By baghesani on 18 January, 2017 - 12:14 am
I want to know about SGT600 bleed valves discharge location. In old package they discharge into
inlet plenum (intake system), but in new gas turbine package they discharge into exhaust.
I want to know that, It is just for arrangement concern and enclosure limitation or it is related to other
aspects such as engine parameters.
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Best Regards
By FrankKant
on 13 September, 2015 - 7:50 pm
1 out of 2 members thought this post was helpful...
> What is the significance of Bleed Valve operation from
> start up to full loading a Gas Turbine?
GE usually provides a schedule of how far open/closed they would be during operation compared to
compressor speed, with a separate transient schedule for positioning during quick speed changes.
As MarkVGuy said, once you're up to speed you pretty much want them closed for efficiency reasons.
I would also add you want to keep them closed during a purge.
-Frank
By CSA
on 14 September, 2015 - 11:32 am
0 out of 2 members thought this post was helpful...
FrankKant,
> I would also add you want to keep them closed during a purge.
What's your definition of purging? When does it occur?
By FrankKant
on 14 September, 2015 - 5:54 pm
1 out of 2 members thought this post was helpful...
>What's your definition of purging? When does it occur?
Either a simple compressor purge or HRSG purge prior to light off. My thinking was that it would
be best if all the compressor air was going through the turbine and or HRSG purging rather than out
the bleed valves.
By CSA
on 14 September, 2015 - 11:32 pm
0 out of 2 members thought this post was helpful...
FrankKant,
>My thinking was that it would be best if all
>the compressor air was going through the turbine and or HRSG
>purging rather than out the bleed valves.
Not bad thinking, but the compressor bleed valves "exhaust" in the GT exhaust, so it goes into the
HRSG, just probably at a slightly lower pressure. This is shown on the P&IDs.
By FrankKant
on 15 September, 2015 - 7:07 pm
1 out of 2 members thought this post was helpful...
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>> My thinking was that it would be best if all
>> the compressor air was going through the turbine and or HRSG
>> purging rather than out the bleed valves.
> Not bad thinking, but the compressor bleed valves "exhaust"
> in the GT exhaust, so it goes into the HRSG, just probably
> at a slightly lower pressure. This is shown on the P&IDs.
I guess that would depend on site installation, as the site I'm at now the VBVs do not exhaust in
the HRSG. They have a separate vent/silencer.
By CSA
on 16 September, 2015 - 10:56 am
0 out of 2 members thought this post was helpful...
And this conversation was about bleed valves, not variable bleed valves. And bleed valves on
GE-design heavy duty gas turbines in particular.
By FrankKant
on 16 September, 2015 - 3:03 pm
1 out of 2 members thought this post was helpful...
> And this conversation was about bleed valves, not variable
> bleed valves. And bleed valves on GE-design heavy duty gas
> turbines in particular.
Sorry CSA, didn't mean to offend you. To be clear original question said nothing about "Heavy
Duty" or "GE-design", they simply asked the significance of operating bleed valves on "a gas
turbine" and I was attempting to contribute my limited knowledge on the subset of gas turbines I
work with. The later post specified 21MW (probably a 2500?) which I assumed was an
aeroderivative, as I haven't seen anything GE's Heavy Duty below the 6B at 44MW, and they
specified "compressor" bleed valves, which are variable, even if you only use them as on/off.
-Frank
By engr on 21 September, 2015 - 5:09 pm
Can anyone explain how bleed valves actually prevent compressor from surging during startup or
shutdown? Also can high inlet vacuum in gas turbine/compressor affects compressor surge
margin?
By CSA
on 22 September, 2015 - 8:54 pm
1 out of 1 members thought this post was helpful...
Axial compressor bleed valves allow a low-pressure path for air to flow "out" of the axial
compressor when it might otherwise cause stalling and/or surging (which are exactly what they
sound like--air can't flow from one stage of compression to the next and the axial compressor
wants to stop turning (very destructive) and if the flow does start it can stop again just as quickly
(also very bad if allowed to continue unabated)).
If someone put an extremely restrictive mask over your nose and mouth while you were
performing very vigorous work or exercise, how would your body react? Compressors don't do
well under those circumstances, either. And axial compressors are not like centrifugal or
reciprocating compressors and respond differently (poorly) to flow restrictions when running at
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rated speeds. They just don't become inefficient, and stall/surge conditions can occur even at
rated speed under the right conditions.
Further, high vacuum in the inlet duct work can cause it to collapse, which would be likely
disastrous. Inlet duct work isn't designed for higher vacuums (that would unnecessarily increase
costs).
Finally, if inlet air filters get so "choked" they collapse a LOT of dirt--and debris--can be very
quickly ingested into the axial compressor inlet, also with disastrous results.
Hope this helps!!!
By engr on 25 September, 2015 - 9:10 pm
thanks for your positive response..
is high rotor cooling air and high disc cavity temperatures has any effect on gas turbine power
output?
By CSA
on 26 September, 2015 - 12:34 pm
1 out of 1 members thought this post was helpful...
Since rotor cooling air generally comes from some area of the axial compressor discharge, then
it's likely that too little air is entering or being allowed to flow through the rotor--and that means
overall unit efficiency won't likely suffer much. But the rotor can experience problems because of
the lack of cooling.
High "disc cavity" (I presume you do not have a GE-design heavy duty gas turbine) temperatures
mean that some of the hot combustion gases are making their way into the "disc cavity" instead
of flowing through the turbine and being expanded to produce work (torque)--OR too little
cooling air is entering the "disc cavity." If too much hot combustion gas enters the "disc cavity"
this will have a small effect on overall unit efficiency. And if too much hot combustion gas flows
into the "disc cavity" then the turbine wheels (discs) are going to experience thermal stresses
which could lead to premature wheel (disc) failure, and catastophic damage.
Also, depending on the air flow paths through the rotor and "disc cavities" it could be that
excessive hot combustion gases are flowing into the "disc cavities" and preventing proper
circulation of cooling air through the rotor and "disc cavities"--which isn't good for the shaft or
the discs (wheels).
Has the unit just returned to service from a maintenance outage? Are you certain the proper
orifices were re-installed in the cooling and sealing air lines? Or, that valves in the cooling and
sealing air lines are in their proper positions (isolation valves open; drain valves closed)?
Has the shaft moved axially recently?
Please write back to let us know what you find!
By engr on 30 September, 2015 - 4:34 am
Actually we have two westinghouse Siemens gas turbines of 50MW capacity. There is load
difference of 2~3MW between two turbines from last few years. Now days, both turbines has
same inlet temperatures, compressor discharge temperature/pressure, blade path path/exhaust
temperatures. However there is difference of disc cavity- 2,3 and rotor cooling air temperatures
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(20~30 degree F higher for turbine having lower load). We have taken all preventive measures
like verification of temp/pressure measurements, blades clearances, replacement of fuel valves,
bleed valves and turbine/compressor rotor etc but no positive result.... can anyone help out cause
of lower power output for one turbine as compared to other?
By ahdash on 2 October, 2015 - 5:25 pm
0 out of 1 members thought this post was helpful...
this is normal, as every machine had different behavior, this is related t the efficiency of each
machine? You try to calculate it as per your machine OEM .
you did not mention about other measurements such as inlet air mass flow in m3/hr, you
measured pressure and temperature pnly which is not enough.
One factor may affect the efficiency the mass flow is the inlet filter pressure drop (delta p) you
check this point as well.
Also both compressors cleanness is a major factor .
Good luck
By engr14 on 8 October, 2015 - 9:19 am
1 out of 1 members thought this post was helpful...
Two turbines are of same manufacturer, same model and same name plate data installed at same
site. Filter DP across inlet air filters and inlet vacuum is also almost same, however we do not
have any direct means to measure inlet air flow rate. We also have changed the entire turbine
rotor but power difference between two turbines still persists..
By jhon88
on 16 February, 2016 - 10:01 pm
hello,
I want to know. if the bleed valve keeping open after her function, what would happen?
.......thanks
By usiner
on 23 June, 2016 - 10:25 am
What should be the expected "Operational Time" to fully close or to fully open? (W251B11;
50MW).
Thank you.
By Abdul Rauf on 4 April, 2017 - 10:54 am
What to do if surge/stall condition occur in axial compressor at rated speed?
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By CSA
on 4 April, 2017 - 3:17 pm
0 out of 1 members thought this post was helpful...
> What to do if surge/stall condition occur in axial
> compressor at rated speed?
The axial compressor bleed valves of a GE-design heavy duty gas turbine offer no protection
against surge/stall at rated speed. And, most newer GE-design heavy duty gas turbine control
systems monitor operation and annunciate a Process Alarm when the axial compressor is
approaching the limits of operation that, if exceeded, could result in surge/stall. On some GEdesign heavy duty gas turbines, the turbine control system will actually limit output to protect
against damaging the compressor.
But, if one occurs, well, about the best thing one can hope for is that the damage is minimal and
the cost to repair is minimal and the lost production is minimal.
By mechop2
on 30 April, 2017 - 10:15 am
>The axial compressor bleed valves of a GE-design heavy duty
>gas turbine offer no protection against surge/stall at rated
>speed. And, most newer GE-design heavy duty gas turbine
>control systems monitor operation and annunciate a Process
>Alarm when the axial compressor is approaching the limits of
>operation that, if exceeded, could result in surge/stall. On
>some GE-design heavy duty gas turbines, the turbine control
>system will actually limit output to protect against
>damaging the compressor.
Which process alarm gets triggered when approaching stall exactly?? I have seen significant
damage to axial compressor of a GE 9FA turbine when "Compressor stall detected " "loss of
compressor discharge pressure bias" alarm appeared while running at about 90% load and IBH
closed. The unit had been running normally for the past many days. Unfortunately, everything
happened within fraction of seconds without any warning or associated process alarm that could
have provided even 10 seconds for operator to react. No foreign object, no damage at filter house
or screen thereafter was observed even though IGV also suffered significant damage. Although
the enquiry and RCA is over, people have been secretive and not disclosed much as huge losses
were incurred. I will post the details when I get to know, nowhere sooner of course, but was
really really surprised with the event.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT GAS TURBINE DESIGN IS SO GREAT THAT NOTHING CAN
HAPPEN WITHOUT ALARM !!
By CSA
on 1 May, 2017 - 8:34 am
1 out of 2 members thought this post was helpful...
The compressor protection is usually accomplished in two places--the sequencing, or application code,
running in the control processors (<R>, <S> & <T>) and in the firmware on one of the I/O cards
(depends on the version of Mark*).
The protection in the sequencing/application code runs at the scan rate of the the control processors.
The protection in the firmware on the I/O cards runs at 128 Hz or 100 Hz (again, depending on the
version of Mark*).
The quality of the maintenance of the instrumentation is critical to the sensing and alarming/protection.
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A LOT of GE-design Frame 9 F-class heavy duty gas turbines are operated in parts of the world where
the frequency control is not so good. Off-frequency operation of these machines is not good for them,
and they were designed for Base Load operation, with few starts. And trips from load, in addition to
starts, decrease parts life more than previous designs.
GE F-class gas turbines were designed at the very limits of materials and technology with very little
engineering margin--unlike B/E-class gas turbines, including Frame 3s and Frame 5s. B/E-class gas
turbines were designed and built with large engineering margins and could "take a licking and keep on
ticking" (a reference to an ability to withstand heavy use and even abuse for decades). They could
withstand trips and off-frequency operation and frequent start/stop operation.
So, your statement is very accurate for the majority of the GE-design heavy duty gas turbine fleet. But,
operating F-class gas turbines in frequent start/stop cycles, and, worse, at off-frequency conditions is
not how they were designed to be operated. GE has designed and extensively tested their new HA-class
gas turbines to operate in frequent start/stop operation, and in off-frequency applications in a return to
the tradition of previous designs.
So, without knowing a LOT MORE about how the unit was operated prior to the event, how it was
being operated at the time of the trip, the time since the last planned maintenance outage, what kind of
parts were used in the last maintenance outage, the number of starts/stops and trips, the age of the
machine, and ambient conditions as well as grid conditions it's really difficult to say more. Your
instrument technician should be able to to look at the Process Alarm list for the unit and tell you what
alarms are used for the machine at your site.
Finally, a stall/surge event can occur very suddenly. While GE has done a very good job of developing
protection and detection algorithms I visit too many sites where any alarm is a nuisance and alarms are
ignored--even if the unit has tripped. Any review and analysis would have to include alarms prior to the
event, also.
Hope this helps! If you can share complete information, that would be great--but there can be many
factors and contributors to an event like the one at your site. If you can share the full, final report that
would be great; anything less could be misleading.
By gtmechop2
on 30 March, 2018 - 1:11 pm
Report can't be disclosed but was daftly manipulated to hide the root cause: rain-water ingress through
inlet duct.
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