The MGT series gas turbines are equipped with 6021A high-


temperature pressure sensors for process monitoring and


predictive maintenance, right; high-temperature gas turbine monitoring pressure sensors must withstand temperatures of up to 1,000°C, inset


tween 6MW and 12MW, offer a far more sus- tainable solution for electricity and heat pro- duction than power plants that operate with diesel, coal or heavy fuel oil. Especially in sit- uations that require not only power but also high-temperature heat – in paper production, for instance, or in the food industry – gas tur- bines achieve very high levels of efficiency. “But they can also be used for decentralised


power generation, particularly in remote areas where access is difficult, because commis- sioning costs for gas turbines are many times lower than for large engines,” he says. To monitor the combustion process and im- plement other advantages such as fuel flexi- bility and real-time monitoring, MAN ES opted for Kistler as a development partner. Piezo- electric high-temperature pressure sensors (6021A) from Kistler are connected directly to the gas turbine control; they operate in con- tinuous mode to supply a data feed about the combustion process. “As well as being very compact, these sen-


sors can withstand extremely high tempera- tures. That means we can position them close to the flame and obtain precise and highly in- formative data – available to us and our cus- tomers 24/7 via the MAN CEON Cloud. In this way, the requirements for condition monitor- ing and predictive maintenance are met,” con- tinues Ćosić. Sensors from Kistler play a major part in


controlling and monitoring the combustion process. Alongside emissions reduction, fuel flexibility is a key factor here. The MGT6000 series, for example, features dual fuel capa- bility: this means that operation with liquid fuels such as diesel is also possible in the event that no natural gas is available. As


hausen, where it will serve the local munici- pal utility (EVO). “This new, ultramodern gas turbine can al-


Ćosić points out, it is also possible to use shale and other combustion gases, including those that often occur as waste products: these contain high proportions of inert gas such as nitrogen or carbon monoxide, but still have some residual energy. “We optimise the combustion processes so that no insta- bilities occur even when the fuel is changed over – and live data supplied by Kistler sen- sors helps us here,” he says.


Hydrogen – fuel of the future \\\ Kistler collaborated with MAN ES to develop a


customised electronic unit (the signal condi- tioning unit) that simplifies the entire mea- suring chain and contributes significantly to cost optimisation. “Throughout the entire pe- riod, we received vigorous support from the team headed by Marco Gnielka – and that helped us to arrive at what we see as the op- timal approach,” Ćosić adds. “The initial chal- lenges were soon overcome, and Christian Heer – my contact partner at Kistler – is a highly proficient expert on the technology. Al- though we come from different engineering backgrounds, we quickly developed a work- ing relationship based on trust.” The next step in the ongoing development


of the gas turbine is to enable the use of vari- able gas mixtures with up to 100 per cent hy- drogen: this advance holds out the prospect of even cleaner combustion, with CO2 emis- sions approaching zero. MAN ES commis- sioned the first MGT8000 in Autumn 2020 in Sterkrade, a district of the city of Ober-


ready be operated with a hydrogen share of 20 per cent. This could be increased to 50 per cent in the short term. And in the medium term, 100 per cent will even be possible,” Ćosić explains. “Hydrogen is highly reactive, so it changes the combustion characteristics – the flame burns more quickly, so to speak. That means you have to readjust and optimise the system if there is a major increase in the per- centage of hydrogen in the gas mixture. But there are no changes to the basic parameters such as power output and efficiency – opera- tors can continue to use our gas turbines as usual.” Given that gas turbines have life expectan-


cies of 15 years or more, customers of MAN ES view investment protection as an important criterion. If increasing quantities of hydrogen are fed into the natural gas network in the fu- ture – or indeed if new, pure hydrogen sys- tems come into being – measurement technology from Kistler will play its part in the evolution of gas turbines from MAN ES; and that applies to optimisation of the combus- tion processes as well as maintenance and monitoring. According to Ćosić, Kistler is a highly reli- able partner who is able to support MAN’s business across the globe – for instance, if staff need to be trained in China. And Kistler also has the flexibility to offer support and de- velopment services on an individual, personal basis. “That places us in an excellent position to cope with the growth we expect in the com- ing years and decades as the necessary phase- out of coal and oil proceeds,” he concludes. DS&I


2021 /// DAQ, Sensors & Instrumentation \\\ 33


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