Effect of haze on gas turbine output

Abstract

The occurrences of haze in Malaysia are usually attributed to forest fires during p rolong period of dry spells in weather condition. Close monitoring of gas turbines’ outputs at Kuala Langat Power Plant (KLPP) during such haze period indicated their outputs are affected; the reduction of output is greater the higher is the haze as measured using the A i r Pollution Index (API). The output reductions could reach asmuch as about 3% during normal running of the gas turbines even when the outputs are corrected for ambient temperature, atmospheric pre s s u re and relative humidity. Base upon our observation frommonitoring data re c o rd e d during such haze periods in the past,we are of the opinion that this is primarily due to incomplete combustion and change to the specific heat ratio of air, arising from the change in air composition.