Donaldson is focused on advancing filtration for a cleaner world
Donaldson is a large company with a simple focus. We are advancing filtration for a cleaner world,” begins David Green, who has spent the past 13 years working among the firm’s range of filtration solutions that are designed to help improve the performance of gas turbines
“This focus goes beyond the filters themselves: it holistically aims to improve the performance of the filtration system and the equipment on which the filters operate. In gas turbines this means we not only filter the intake air (the combustion air coming into the systems) or the fuels and oils that come into the system; we also have water removal and varnish removal capabilities,” Green details.
As well as air intake filter systems that clean and condition the combustion air, other offerings include filtration systems for the plant’s compressed air and hydraulic systems. Here, Green notes: “We design and manufacture these systems at our own facilities around the world to deliver the high-quality, cost-saving technology that the competitive oil & gas market demands.”
The air filtration expert explains that Donaldson’s engineering and project teams have “decades of experience driving design advances with the focus on improving the turbine performance and the operator experience”. This depth of knowledge comes in particularly useful when the teams are working the older equipment that can be found at plenty of oil and gas installations today. “Many of our customers have ageing equipment that they are looking to get more from, whether that means improved reliability or increasing the power,” says Green. “In some cases, that means they are overhauling their engines and need new air inlet systems to match their new airflow demands, and in others, that means adding an evaporative cooler or chilling systems to get more air through an existing gas turbine set up. We have partnered with oil and gas facilities to make both upgrades possible.”
Green reports that the customers facing the challenges associated with ageing infrastructure rely on having an experienced partner on-hand throughout the entire upgrade process: “For us, that means being there every step of the way from initial scoping and budgeting through to on-site installation and commissioning support.” He adds: “As part of that early budgeting process, we have also supported gas turbine users with tools to help understand the return on investment (ROI) on their upgrades. Taking the example of installing an evaporative cooler, this means providing them with an accurate understanding of the benefits they can expect in terms of cooling and therefore turbine performance improvement.”
TESTING TIMES
The company’s collaborative and transparent ethos extends to tackling ongoing technical issues, as Green explains: “When we put people on site, we want to be a partner in understanding and solving the problems users are encountering. One way we do that is to bring filters back to our testing labs to better understand the challenge that a site is uniquely facing.”
As well as benefiting its customers, Green reveals that this lab work is also incredibly valuable for Donaldson: “Analysing any contaminants found in filters allows us to do two things at once. First, for that particular site, we can better understand what is challenging their system and then offer the best technology for that specific contaminant. Secondly, these lab tests are a crucial part of our own product development process. We are a technology-led filtration company, and these lab tests contribute to a great set of real-world data for our continuous technology development.”
With regard to specific products that are reaping the benefits of this ongoing development work, Green highlights two innovations that are proving especially popular among Donaldson customers: “The first is our quick lock yoke retention system, which creates a proper filtration seal, and accelerates filter change outs. The second product is our TurboTek line of filter products, which provide exceptional filtration performance to protect the user’s engine and allow it to perform better for longer.”
TURBO BOOST
Green explains that the watertight TurboTek H20+ filters have been installed throughout the world in challenging environments that have traditionally degraded compressor efficiency costing gas turbine owners by decreasing their power output. A recent project showcases the important role they can play in such applications, as Green details: “An Australian LNG plant switched to E12 TurboTek filters and subsequently saw extraordinary results. Thanks to the filters, the customer experienced no moisture bypass, which led to a much-reduced loss in compressor efficiency. This meant the turbine kept running in its clean condition, which maximised power and removed the need to water wash.” He also reports an impressive knock-on effect: “Besides those operational benefits, using our media extended the life of the filter on site from 18 to 48 months.”
REAL-WORLD RESULTS
Donaldson’s holistic approach is aptly illustrated by its Abu Dhabi site, which features an outdoor rig for testing its filters in the real (and rather dusty) world. “We are highly vertically integrated – we produce most components on site to provide high quality and efficient lead times for our customers in this region,” explains Green.
Commenting on the role of this site within Donaldson’s overall business, Green notes: “Our facility in Abu Dhabi has been focused on the oil & gas sector for more than a decade, and it now serves as the global centre of excellence for large turbines within our business unit. Because of this experience, the entire team has a wealth of knowledge on the demands of this market and the critical role our equipment plays in gas turbine performance. We know that the components and systems we provide benefit the reliability and efficiency of the gas turbine system, and so our projects and products in Abu Dhabi have been continuously improved to meet those goals.”
