Wet Compression Safely Delivers 14 MW in Two Minutes at Arizona Plant

The Mesquite Block 2 plant, owned by Onward Energy, implemented wet compression from Mee Industries on two 7F.03 turbines to increase power throughout the year, especially during the hot summer months. Wet compression consists of injecting pure-water fog into the inlet of a gas turbine to improve output and heat rate. When the water droplets evaporate inside the compressor, they reduce the temperature and hence the work of compression. This means more power is available at the output shaft. Wet compression produces a power boost of 5% to 10% for each 1% (of the air mass flow) of water injected. Droplets evaporate inside the compressor to give an evaporative intercooling effect. Spraying 2% of the air mass flow gives up to 20% power boost. Some systems have been installed that output as much as 2.5% of the air mass flow.