GEK106915

April 1998
Replaces WIVFD00

GE Power Systems
Gas Turbine

Water Injection System (VFD)

I. GENERAL

The water injection control system provides the necessary flow of water to the gas turbine combustion system
in order to meet recent Federal and State regulations by limiting the emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and
on some units is used for power augmentation. These regulations not only require meeting the emission lev-
els, but also require the continuous monitoring of fuel flow, water injection flow, and other machine parame-
ters to verify that regulations are being met.

The major portion of the water injection system is located on an off-base skid, shown in the System Schemat-
ic. The system schedules water flow to the turbine combustors as a function of total fuel flow and, if required,
ambient temperature. The required water to fuel ratio must be established through the field compliance test
of each unit per the Federal Standard. The final control schedule is calculated in RST controller software
algorithms. The primary components of the system are as follows. Larger systems require Primary and Sec-
ondary Flow Circuits. Secondary components are mentioned here in ():

1. Electric motor-driven centrifugal water pump(s) 88WN, if supplied. The pump(s) is protected from
low water pressure by pressure switches 63WN, located at the pump suction and discharge.

2. A five-micron filter at the pump discharge to prevent foreign object contamination of control de-
vices and water injection nozzles.

3. Turbine flowmeters FM1 with magnetic pickups 77WN-1,-2,-3,... and pre-amplifiers which pro-
vide electrical feedback signals proportional to water flow to the gas turbine.

4. Water injection system stop valve VS2-1 (VS2-2), controlled by solenoid 20WN-1 (20WN-6).

5. A variable frequency drive (VFD), 97WN-1 receives a start signal, and a 4–20 mA demand signal
from the Mk V Controller. The centifugal pump is then driven by this VFD to control the water to
the gas turbine.

6. Injection manifold on turbine base and water injection nozzles which distribute an even flow of wa-
ter to the combustors over the required flow range. The manifold distributes the flow equally to the
flow proportioning valves VWP1–1 to VWP1–14 (to VWP1–18 on Frame 9 units). These valves
provide a high flow resistance at low flows in order to evenly distribute the water flow at start-up
and low flows.

These instructions do not purport to cover all details or variations in equipment nor to provide for every possible
contingency to be met in connection with installation, operation or maintenance. Should further information be desired or
should particular problems arise which are not covered sufficiently for the purchaser’s purposes the matter should be
referred to the GE Company.
 1998 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
GEK106915 Water Injection System (VFD)

7. Controllers RST position the control valve actuator(s) for required water flow, and provide logic
and memory for continuous monitoring and readout on the panel CRT.

II. OPERATION

For a given ambient temperature, the total water flow to the turbine is scheduled as a function of fuel flow.
A typical water- to-fuel control schedule for No. 2 distillate fuel appears in Figure 1. The water flow is ad-
justed during field compliance tests to meet emission limits specified by the Federal Standard. The com-
pliance curve, determined as a result of these field tests, is then programmed into the PROM as the reference
for comparison with actual water flow to insure that regulations are being met. The control curve, which de-
termines actual water flow, contains a minimum flow limit to assure proper water distribution among the
combustors. The control curve is offset slightly from the compliance curve to assure sufficient water flow
over the complete range of water injection.

Changes in ambient temperature shift the compliance curve. Therefore, it is desirable to shift the control
curve to prevent over-watering of one extreme or a non-compliance condition at the other. A thermocouple
located at the turbine inlet provides the control system with the necessary input to bias the control curve with
ambient temperature.

The variable frequency drive pump is designed to provide water flow per the control curve. A simplified
electrical schematic is shown in Figure 2. The electrical controls contain the appropriate input/output elec-
tronics, feedback transducers, interface logic, and an output printer. The input liquid fuel flow signal is the
analog fuel flow feedback voltage used in the liquid fuel control system.

For gas turbines with dual or gas fuel, a meter tube with an orifice is installed in the customer gas line. Differ-
ential and static pressure transmitters 96FF-1,-2, 96FG-2 and three thermocouples are mounted on the gas
meter tube to send gas data to the turbine panel controllers RST where gas flow is calculated. See Figure 3.

The flow control loop utilizes flowmeter feedback as the primary water flow signal. Magnetic pickups 77WN
transmit a pulse rate via a remote amplifier.

III. DATA STORAGE AND PRINTOUT

Both water flow and fuel flow are scanned and memory-stored in controllers RST. At the end of each minute,
the sixty one-second data entries are averaged and placed in one of sixty one-minute data slots. A new data
point is added each minute and “removes” data older than one hour from memory. Every minute, the sixty
one- minute data slots are averaged to check for a non-compliance condition. If a non-compliance condition
exists an alarm log is annunciated, consisting of the averaged information and a list of the sixty one-minute
data points which average produced the alarm condition. If no non-compliance condition exists, the printout
will be an hourly log consisting of averaged information from the sixty data points. Thus, all data is recorded
in summary form, once per hour if in compliance, and in one minute summaries if not in compliance.

Information available consists of date and time, fuel flow, water flow, actual water-to-fuel ratio, required
water-to-fuel ratio for compliance, and ambient temperature.

It is possible for a few successive one-minute data points to fall below the required water-to-fuel ratio without
causing a non-compliance condition over the sixty minute averaging interval. In such a case, a local alarm
will alert the operator so that corrective action may be taken to prevent a non-compliance situation from oc-
curring.

2
Water Injection System (VFD) GEK106915

Adjustable

Control
Curve
Water Flow, (Ib/h)

Adjustable

Minimum Flow
For Required
Accuracy Compliance (Alarm)
Curve

Adjustable

Fuel Flow, (Btu/h)

Figure 1. Typical Water-To-Liquid Fuel Control Schedule.

3
4

GEK106915
77WN-2

77WN–1 77WN–3
Water Flow Stop Valve M
88WN-1
To Water PW1-1
Injection
Manifold
Water Flow
VS2-1
FMI-1

Water Flow Signal

97WN-1

Control VFD
Ambient Temperature <RST> <C>
Water Injection Permissives Software
Gas Fuel Flow (If Used)
– Control Algorithm
Distillate Fuel FLow – Data Monitoring
– Time Ave. Calculation
– Data Logging
– Alarm Functions
– Sequencing Pump Starts/Stop
Enable
Trip Water

Water Injection System (VFD)

Annunciate

Other
Functions

Figure 2. Water Injection Electrical Control System Schematic.

Water Injection System (VFD) GEK106915

IV. PROTECTION

A combustion monitor function in communicator <C> will detect any abnormal operation of the water injec-
tion system which may extinguish the flame in one or more combustion cans. The monitor will give a com-
bustion alarm upon detection of an abnormal exhaust temperature pattern.

Controller software contains constants which will detect loss of feedback from the flowmeter. Loss of
feedback is annunciated on the turbine panel CRT.

Several water system alarm and shutoff conditions are detected by controllers RST. Communicator <C> will
send a “water system trouble” signal to the turbine panel CRT if problems in the feedback or fuel flow mea-
surement circuits are detected. Communicator <C> will send a “water system shutdown” signal and trip the
water injection system for any of the following conditions:

1. Water injection pump suction or discharge pressure, as sensed by pressure switches 63WN is too
low.

2. Fuel flow to the turbine is cut back very rapidly. This is observed by sensing the rate of decrease
in FSR, and the water is shut off in order to prevent flameout in any of the combustors.

3. Combustion alarm generated from the combustion monitor function in communicator C.

Each of the above trip conditions must exist for a certain fixed period of time in order to prevent water system
trip due to a transient condition.

5
GEK 106915 Water Injection System (VFD)

96FG–1

PC
96FF–2

H L
PC PC

96FF–2

H L
PC PC
5 Valve Transducer
Manifold
H PC PC L

Line Valve
Line Valve

Bleed
Valve

Thermocouples
FT–GI–1 FT–GI–2 FT–GI–3
H PC V PC Equalizer PC L
Vent

PC PC
PC PC

Metering Gas Flow

Orifice

Figure 3. Water Injection Gas Fuel Meter Tube Schematic (Typical).

GE Power Systems

General Electric Company

One River Road, Schenectady, NY 12345
518 • 385 • 2211 TX: 145354