Degassed Conductivity Analyzer for Faster Unit Startups

Today’s demands require generating units to rapidly respond to changing generation requirements and supply fluctuations from renewables such as solar and wind power. OEM’s have designed combined cycle units that can reach full load in less than 30 minutes without sacrificing efficiency or parts life. To achieve this, the OEM’s have incorporated degassed conductivity as their steam purity conductivity requirement. During startup carbon dioxide (CO₂) is at high concentrations thereby greatly elevating the cation conductivity. CO₂ is not a serious cause for concern for steam turbine corrosion therefore admitting steam to the steam turbine with elevated cation but degassed cation conductivity values within OEM guidelines is acceptable. Well‐designed degassed cation conductivity analyzers remove 90 – 95 % of the CO₂.