Fuel Oil Temperature?

Er, why does a gas turbine need fuel oil? Curious minds want to know.....

Main Fuel : Natural Gas

Backup Fuel : Fuel Oil

Apart from JBK's #2, as I understand the terminology, gas refers to the state as it goes through the turbine. Aero-engines are called gas turbines, although run on paraffin. Compare steam turbine and water turbine.

Codey

Slacker....

Spend a little time on Wikipedia...

A "Gas Turbine" is the complete name of the device. It is also called a combustion turbine. Essentially, it is a jet engine.

They can use natural gas, fuel oil, naptha, landfill gas and other fuels.

Much of the new power generation planned around the world will be from Gas Turbines.

OP:

A1.The fuel oil temperature should not rise much above the tank temperature unless you are in an area where low temperatures are a problem and some form of heat tracing is on the piping to prevent gelling. Why do you think it would undergo some odd temperature change?

A2. Depending upon the type of fuel delivery/engine management system, the fuel oil is delivered at a higher pressure/flow rate than the engine can consume. The engine management system uses a combination of PRVs (Pressure Relief/Regulating Valves) to modulate the flow rate to produce the required engine output. The excess fuel that is delivered but not consumed is returned to the storage tank to make the trip again.

MJ: The "gas" in gas turbine refers to the state of the working fluid (hot air, a gas) in the turbine, not the fuel used to heat the air. Further reading in the Wiki article will show you that there are two main types used by utilities, the lighter (in weight) higher speed jet engine type and the heavier but lower speed industrial type. Aside from the speed, weight and size differences, the distinguishing factor is how the mechanical power is extracted; jet engines' speeds are variable and use the exhaust gas flow to indirectly drive a slow speed turbine at the synchronous speed of the generator whereas an industrial turbine drive shaft runs at a fixed speed and is directly connected (sometimes through a gearbox) to the generator.

It is unlikely that utilities will be using single cycle gas turbines for most of their generation due their much poorer (higher) heat rate relative to combined cycle or traditional base-load generation. Their main advantage is the relatively low initial cost and speed of construction, typically months instead of years.