Gas Turbine

Description of Auxiliary Systems

Fuel Supply System (gaseous)

Automatic Draining of the Natural Gas System

Refer also to:

burners are reactivated after an extended period of

operation on FO, in extreme cases the flames can go out.

List of Control Settings

List of Measuring Instruments
List of Electrical Loads
Equipment List
Requirements for GT Working Media ...
Natural Gas System
P+I Diagram Natural Gas
P+I Diagram Automatic Draining of
the Natural Gas System

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Small amounts of ignition gas (propane, butane) that

accumulate after a FO start or FO that has accumulated
after operation on FO, also in connection with possible
condensate that collects in the FG lines, can cause
damage to the supply piping when the FG burners are
activated.

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communication there of to others without express
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registration of a utility model or design patent are reserved.

Drainage System Components

Overview

Drain Valves

During operation on fuel oil (FO), condensate may

form in those fuel gas (FG) connecting lines between the
FG package and the ring lines as well as the FG control
valves through which no medium is flowing. This
condensate is routed into a drainage tank by electricallyactuated drain valves.

FG connecting lines and the FG control valves are

emptied into drainage tank MBP40BB001 via electrically
actuated drain valves MBP32AA401 and MBP33AA401.
Together with tank drain valve MBP40AA401 and vent
valve MBP40AA501, these drain valves constitute a dual
element shutoff device. The drain valves are closed when
de-energized and each is equipped with a limit switch for
the "CLOSED" setting.

During the draining process it is possible that not only

water condensate, but also ignition gas (propane,
butane), FG, and very small quantity of FG condensate
(at abnormal operation, propane is not pre-heated
sufficiently) are carried into the drainage tank
(MBP40BB001). Gas separates from the liquid in the
drainage tank. Gas is released to the atmosphere via a
vent valve (MBP40AA501). The liquids (water, propane
condensate, FO) are collected in the tank.
A solenoid valve (MBP40AA401) that is actuated on
the basis of tank level allows the condensate collected to
flow out of the drainage tank and into a downstream
system for disposal.
These drain valves are automatically actuated every 2
hours during operation on FO as a function of the
operating mode, prior to each start, after every gas
turbine trip and after performing off-line compressor
cleaning.

Class: Restricted

Accumulation of Condensate in the FG

System
During operation on FO, minor localized pressure
differences in the combustion chamber cause cross flows
of air from the compressor outlet through the FG burners,
the associated branch lines and the FG ring lines. In the
process, the small flow of air from the compressor outlet
cools down. Depending on the ambient and site
conditions, this may involve temperatures below the dew
point and thus accumulation of condensate in the branch
line and in the FG connecting lines up to the respective
FG control valve. The amount of condensate that forms is
so large that disturbances can occur when the FG

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Energy Sector

Cross flow between the FG premix and pilot piping via

the drainage system is prevented by actuating the drain
valves accordingly.
These valves are protected against excessive
temperatures by the drainage procedure itself, limitation
of the drainage time per drainage cycle, and by
monitoring the settings of the associated valves.

Drainage Tank
Drainage tank MBP40BB001 is used to collect and
separate liquid and gas. Vent valve MBP40AA501 is
used to vent this tank. This tank is equipped with safety
valve MBP40AA191.
The drainage tank is equipped with level sensor
MBP40CL101, which is used for actuating tank drain
valve MBP40AA401. Maintaining a minimum liquid level
in the tank ensures that no gas can escape via the drain.
The drainage tank design is based on the assumption
that about twenty liters of condensate forms per drain
cycle.
Pressure transducer MBP40CP101 is used to monitor
the pressure in the drainage tank and the leak-tightness
of the associated valves.
Measuring point MBP40CT101 monitors the
temperature in the drainage tank, because vaporization
of gas may cause formation of ice in the tank.
This temperature indicates whether liquefied gas has
flashed and whether the condensate has begun freezing.

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Gas Turbine
Description of Auxiliary Systems

Fuel Supply System (gaseous)

Automatic Draining of the Natural Gas System

Safety Valve

At the beginning of draining during gas turbine

operation the vent valve is opened to depressurize the
drainage tank. Thereafter the vent valve is closed to
check the drain valves for leak-tightness. The vent valve
is always open when the gas turbine is at a standstill.

Safety valve MBP40AA191 protects the drainage tank

against excessive pressures. If system pressure exceeds
a maximum permissible operating pressure, the safety
valve opens, relieving pressure in the drainage tank.

Gas entrained into drainage tank MBP40BB001 is

released to the atmosphere via electrically-actuated vent
valve MBP40AA501.

Depending on the operating mode of the gas turbine,

the liquid and gas that have accumulated in the
respective line (PM and PG) are routed into the drainage
tank via the respective drain valve. During the draining
procedure, it is only permissible for one of the piping
system drain valves to be open.

The vent valve is closed when de-energized and is

equipped with a limit switch for the "CLOSED" setting.

Any faults to the drainage system during GT operation

trigger annunciation of an alarm.

The vent valve is opened for a defined time at certain

intervals, during and/or after each FG connecting piping
draining operation, and during drainage of the tank itself.

It is also possible to start the draining procedure

manually when the gas turbine is at a standstill.

Vent valve

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this document as well as utilization of its contents and
communication there of to others without express
authorization are prohibited. Offenders will be held liable for
payment of damages. All rights created by patent grant or
registration of a utility model or design patent are reserved.

Tank Drain Valve

Electrically-actuated tank drain valve MBP40AA401 is
used to control drainage of liquid from drainage tank
MBP40BB001. The tank drain valve is closed when deenergized and is equipped with a limit switch for the
"CLOSED" setting.
The tank drain valve is only opened to drain the tank.

Operating Modes
The automatic draining procedure for the pilot gas
and premix gas piping is started:

Before GT startup,

After each time the gas turbine is shut down

(including all GT trips),

After each start on FO,

Every 2 hours during operation on FO,

After performing off-line compressor cleaning.

After the first premix and pilot purge sequence

(optional, only for GT with air purge system).

Class: Restricted

Draining Procedure
All valves of the drainage system must have a defined
zero setting before commencing the draining procedure,
i.e., the piping drain valves and the tank drain valve must
be closed. Depending on the operating condition of the
GT, the vent valve may be either open or closed. If the
GT is running, the vent valve remains closed during the
draining procedure. After completion of the draining
operation, the drainage tank vent valve is opened and the
gas in the tank can escape to the atmosphere. The vent
valve is open when the draining procedure is performed
with the gas turbine at a standstill.

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Energy Sector

Drainage Tank Level Control

If the level in the drainage tank exceeds its upper
limit, the tank drain valve is opened with the vent valve
also open. An alarm is annunciated if tank level continues
to rise.
The enable for opening the tank drain valve is issued
if the vent valve is open and the pressure in the drainage
tank is below a certain level.
The tank drain valve can only be opened if the level in
the drainage tank is higher than a certain point. This
ensures that no gas can escape via the tank drain line
when the drain valve is open.
The tank drain valve is closed when the drainage tank
level drops below a defined lower level.
An alarm is annunciated if the level in the drainage
tank declines further. In such cases there is a risk that
gas can escape via the drain line.

Monitoring and Fault Considerations

In the event of an outage of the drainage system,
startups on FG as well as operation on either FG or FO
are still permissible. Failed starts or fuel changeover
problems may occur, however.
If faults to or an outage of the drainage system occur
prior to a FO start, startup on this fuel is prevented.

Drain Valve Limit Position Monitoring

The drain valves are each equipped with a limit switch
for the "CLOSED" setting. An alarm is annunciated if
more than one of these valves is not "CLOSED".
If one of the drain valves (PM, PG) and the vent valve
or tank drain valve do not simultaneously signal
"CLOSED", an uncontrolled flow of air from the
compressor outlet can enter the drainage system and

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Gas Turbine
Description of Auxiliary Systems

Fuel Supply System (gaseous)

Automatic Draining of the Natural Gas System

thus escape to the atmosphere. Drainage procedure is

interrupted and a close command is issued to all valves,
if those two valves are still not signaled CLOSED, Gas
turbine trip is triggered in 4 seconds.

GT is running. An alarm is annunciated if the vent valve

fails to open due to a fault.

An alarm is annunciated if cross flow occurs between

the PM and PG piping system drain valves, because
more than one of these valves has not signaled
"CLOSED". Drainage procedure is interrupted and a
close command is issued to all valves, if those two drain
valves are still not signaled CLOSED, automatic
shutdown of the GT is performed in 4 seconds.

Monitoring of the Tank Drain and Vent Valve

Limit Positions
The tank drain valve is equipped with a limit switch for
the "CLOSED" setting.
It is only permissible to open the tank drain valve
when sufficient liquid is still present in the drainage tank.
This ensures that no gas can escape via the tank drain
line when the drain valve is open.
The vent valve is equipped with a limit switch for the
"CLOSED" setting.
If the vent valve fails to close due to a fault, an
interlock prevents opening of the drain valves while the

Automatic draining of the FG piping is blocked if the

level in the drainage tank is high. Automatic draining of
the tank is blocked if the level in the drainage tank is low.
Drain procedure is blocked if the level in the drainage
tank is too high or too low.
If the level in the drainage tank is below "MIN" and the
tank drain valve is not closed, an interlock is activated to
prevent opening of the drain valves.
Level monitoring faults trigger annunciation of a
corresponding alarm.
When tank level declines below the minimum limit
during initial commissioning of the plant or after a longer
outage with evaporation of fluid, the tank must be filled
via the designated flange 665B. During filling it might be
necessary that the vent valve is open.

Temperature Monitoring in the Drainage Tank

If liquefied ignition gas flows into the drainage tank,
there is a risk that flashing of this gas may cause
formation of ice which can in turn cause disturbances.
The associated temperature monitoring function blocks
the drainage system if temperature declines below a
certain limit; this triggers an alarm and the operator is
instructed to open the vent valve manually.
If the temperature exceeds the tank design
temperature, an alarm is annunciated, the drainage
system blocked, and a close command issued to the
drain valves.

Class: Restricted

Transmittal, reproduction, dissemination and/or editing of

this document as well as utilization of its contents and
communication there of to others without express
authorization are prohibited. Offenders will be held liable for
payment of damages. All rights created by patent grant or
registration of a utility model or design patent are reserved.

If one of the piping drain valves is to be opened when

the gas turbine is running, the vent valve on the drainage
tank must be closed. If at least one of the piping drain
valves fails to open because of a fault, correct drainage
of the FG piping is no longer ensured. After such a fault
occurs there is a risk that flames will go out next time the
FG burners are activated.

Drainage Tank Level Monitoring

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Energy Sector

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