CONTACT:
Robert McKee
Plant Engineering
(210) 522-3000
E-mail: Robert McKee

(Español)

KEY TERMS:
machinery 
technology
piping technology
structural 
dynamics
fluid dynamics
heat transfer
flow measurement
heat rate
gas turbines

Diagnosis of performance and heat rate problems, fuel flow metering and measurement accuracy, and energy balances with waste heat analysis are significant parts of gas turbine technology at SwRI. These tasks are accomplished by testing and evaluations using advanced and innovative methods, accurate instrumentation, modeling techniques including computational fluid dynamics, and versatile laboratory test facilities.

Gas turbine driving a centrifugal compressor being tested

Performance testing can be conducted with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) technology in field per code requirements or as required for troubleshooting, acceptance tests, or special purposes. Heat rate determination is conducted for diagnoses and evaluations, maintenance decisions, optimization, and sizing of auxiliaries or related systems.

		Click graph for larger image
Flow metering as key part of performance testing at a large gas turbine power plant		Performance testing, with accurate test instruments and proper sampling and processing, is an improvement over results from unchecked, slowly sampled, installed plant instruments

Fuel Flow Metering and Measurement Accuracy

The Institute operates the Gas Technology Institute's Metering Research Facility, located at SwRI. This facility enables engineers to measure the performance of new and existing gas meters over a range of typical and extreme conditions.

More than 40 years of research in industrial flow measurement has provided the staff at SwRI with state-of-the-art knowledge in flow measurement technologies not equally concentrated anywhere else in the world. 

Audits of meter installations can be conducted to determine the accuracy of installed meters and of data processing methods. High-accuracy calibrations of flow meters can be conducted in the world class Metering Research Facility where meters can be calibrated with high-pressure natural gas at pipeline pressures and temperatures. The accuracy of these calibrations can significantly enhance the metering of fuel to a turbine or plant. 

Flow meter accuracy is affected by meter installation parameters including piping configuration, flow conditioner type and location, pulsation and unsteady flow, and many other factors. SwRI has the ability to obtain accurate flow measurements in difficult situations, to conduct real condition flow metering research, and to test components in a wide range of flow facilities.

Diagram of basic analysis of turbine cycles for diagnostic and waste heat

Energy Balances and Waste Heat Analysis

Energy audits using on-site testing and measurements identify excess losses and opportunities for waste heat management and recovery. Waste heat measurements lead to energy loss analysis and to recovery method recommendations and designs.

For more information about gas turbine technology or turbomachinery performance diagnosis capabilities at SwRI or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Robert McKee at rmckee@swri.org or (210) 522-3000.

Mechanical & Fluids Engineering Department
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Southwest Research Institute^® (SwRI^®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.