Once-Through Steam Generator, Noise Mitigation /
Innovative Steam Technologies
situation:
Innovative Steam Technologies (IST) designs and manufactures Once-Through Steam Generators (OTSGs) for cogeneration power plants. To meet environmental noise emissions limits, IST guarantees noise mitigation when fitting a traditional gas turbine with an OTSG. The challenge is predicting and delivering on these noise levels.
OTSGs are generally used to recover energy from gas turbine exhaust. Discharge air from the turbines can exceed 700?C. The OTSG uses this heat to generate steam -exhaust flow rates within the OTSG can reach 50-70 m3/s in localized zones. Conventional noise measurement instrumentation is not designed to operate at such temperatures or in such high flow rate situations.
assessment:
Aercoustics was given the challenge of developing the noise prediction methodology and software for IST for their OTSG installations. This required the measurement and validation of computer and mathematical models simulating different parameters for each OTSG design.
solution:
Special measurement instrumentation was designed and installed during routine plant shutdowns to enable in-situ measurements of noise levels at different locations inside the steam generators. Using these tests on several existing IST installations, Aercoustics was able to develop and refine noise prediction software and methodology, enabling IST to provide more accurate and competitive noise mitigation properties to their clients, and establish them as a leader in their field.
results:
Aercoustics and IST both gained new insight regarding different acoustic phenomena that occur as hot exhausts flow inside the OTSG. Our work has helped in OTSG design that serve in both power generation and noise mitigation.