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Another O&G Innovation Improving the Environment | OGGN Podcast Ep 249
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Our CEO Thomas Mee recently joined OGGN’s HSE Podcast with Russell Stewart to discuss how fogging and wet-compression technology is helping oil & gas operators make existing gas turbines more powerful, more efficient, and more sustainable.
🎧 Listen here:
In the podcast, Russell Stewart and Thomas Mee discuss the role of health, safety, and environmental considerations in the oil and gas industry. They review how fogging technology can improve gas turbine efficiency, lower emissions, and extend the service life of older turbines. The discussion covers water sourcing for fogging systems and how gas turbines can support renewable energy, the return on investment for fogging systems, and the outlook for gas turbines in a changing energy landscape.
The Technical Foundation of Fogging and Wet Compression
At its core, fogging and wet compression are methods designed to increase the mass flow and density of air entering a gas turbine. Gas turbine power output is highly sensitive to ambient temperature; as air gets hotter, it becomes less dense, leading to a sharp decline in performance. Thomas explains that while fogging and wet compression utilize similar equipment, they are applied differently to achieve specific outcomes:
- Evaporative Cooling (Inlet Fogging): This process cools the inlet air, making it denser and increasing the mass flow through the turbine, which results in a significant power boost.
- Wet Compression: This involves injecting more water than is needed for simple saturation, allowing the water to evaporate within the compressor, further enhancing cooling and increasing efficiency by reducing the work required of the compressor.
These systems allow operators to burn less fuel while producing the same amount of energy, directly improving the heat rate and overall efficiency of the turbine fleet.
Addressing Industry Challenges: Power Boosts and Lead Times
One of the most compelling arguments for fogging technology is its ability to extract 10% to 20% more power output from existing gas turbine fleets. This capability is particularly vital in the current market, where the lead times for purchasing and installing new gas turbines have reached historic highs.
Rather than waiting years for new turbines, operators can use fogging and wet compression to bridge capacity gaps. These systems extend asset life, stabilize operations, and maximize capacity without the cost or delays of plant expansion. Rapid delivery and proprietary manufacturing further reduce supply chain impacts.
Versatility Across Industrial Markets
Although commonly used in simple- and combined-cycle power plants, fogging technology is now widely applied in the petroleum, oil, and LNG industries. In these settings, gas turbines serve as prime movers or provide steam for oil plants, making high-temperature performance essential to avoid production losses.
The technology is also effective for diesel and gas reciprocating engines:
- Reciprocating Engines: Unlike turbines, which see a steady decline in power as temperature rises, reciprocating engines typically maintain output until they hit a “critical temperature” de-load point.
- Mitigation: Fogging can prevent this critical de-load, ensuring consistent power delivery even in extreme environments.
Proven Global Impact and Case Studies
Mee Industries has installed over 1,100 systems worldwide, from turbines under 1 MW to units over 350 MW. Notable examples include:
- Iraq Restoration: In post-war Iraq, the rapid delivery and installation of fogging and wet compression systems added power equivalent to approximately 5 to 10 additional gas turbines.
- Critical Infrastructure: The technology was used to support eight diesel engines at the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, ensuring reliable power in a challenging climate.
- Global Reach: Major installations have also been completed in Japan and across multiple U.S. industrial sectors.
Key Takeaways for Industry Professionals
- Immediate Power Gains: Retrofitting turbines with fogging can increase output by 10% to 20%, effectively creating new capacity without new equipment.
- Efficiency Gains: By making inlet air denser and reducing compressor work, these systems lower fuel consumption per megawatt produced.
- Strategic Deployment: Fogging provides a tactical solution to long equipment lead times, enabling rapid capacity increases.
- Broad Compatibility: The technology is effective for various prime movers, including gas turbines, steam-producing oil plants, and diesel reciprocating engines.
- Proven Reliability: With 30 years of development and over 1,000 installations, this technology offers a mature, low-risk optimization strategy for power and industrial sectors.
Thanks for listening. Our proven fogging and wet-compression systems deliver up to 20%+ immediate power from existing turbines, deployed in days and weeks, not years. Backed by 1,150+ global installations, MeeFog helps operators expand capacity, bridge multi-year turbine delays, and improve efficiency at a fraction of new-equipment cost. To learn more, explore our collection of Gas Turbine Case Studies or request a quote.
Jessica Olsen
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