Thermodynamics of Turbine Megawatt Output
The power output of a combustion gas turbine is directly proportional to the mass flow rate of the intake air. During hot summer months, ambient air density drops, causing a significant reduction in Megawatt (MW) capacity. Turbine Inlet Air Cooling (TIAC) using heavy-duty industrial Air Washers solves this thermodynamic penalty.
Adiabatic Saturation and Mass Flow Increase
By forcing the intake air through a high-pressure atomized water bank, the sensible heat of the air vaporizes the water, dropping the dry-bulb temperature close to the ambient wet-bulb temperature. This colder air is substantially denser. The turbine compressor pulls in more mass per volumetric rotation, directly translating to recovered MW output and increased overall thermal efficiency.