AIR & WATER

MONITORING NEWSLETTER  

March 2013
No. 401

Gas Turbine Inlet Filter Market to Exceed $400 Million This Year

The low price of natural gas has resulted in the construction of a number of gas turbine power plants. New construction plus the growing replacement market will boost gas turbine inlet air filter sales to over $400 million in 2013. This segment will account for 6 percent of the $7 billion air filter market. This is the conclusion reached by the McIlvaine Company in its “Air Filtration and Purification World Markets.”

                      ($ Millions)

The inlet air filter is necessary to protect the high speed elements within the gas turbine from excessive wear. As turbine performance has increased, so has the need to remove smaller and smaller particles. As a result, the HEPA range of filters is now frequently needed. Since these filters do not have the dirt holding capability of less efficient filters, it is typical to furnish pre-filters.

Static filters and pulsed filters are the two choices for final filtration. The highest efficiency is obtained either with microglass fibers or with membranes. The incentive to utilize high efficiency filters is expanded when the gas turbine in a locality with very tough emission standards. In California, some permits require the exhaust emissions to be cleaner than the ambient incoming air. So unless the air filter removes the particles, the unit will not be in compliance.

The filters are often supplied by companies who manufacture complete intake systems. Donaldson and Nederman will supply the filters, cooling devices and the housing. These other products substantially increase the revenue opportunity. The intake system purchases in 2012 will be in excess of $1 billion.

The total market for gas turbine systems in 2013 will be $56 billion. Over 70,000 MW of new turbines will be sold. The U.S. will purchase 16,000 MW, bringing its total installed base to over 300,000 MW.

Much of the new U.S. construction is for base loaded combined cycle plants. Much of the existing base is peaking turbines. This distinction is important because filter purchases are less for the peaking turbines. Since these turbines only operate a few weeks or months per year, filter replacement is less frequent.

The intake systems represent 2 percent of the total system expenditure. The combined purchases of new intake systems and filters plus replacement filters will be $1.3 billion.

For more information on “Air Filtration and Purification World Markets,” click on:

http://home.mcilvainecompany.com/index.php?option=com_content&;view=article&id=48#n022

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