There is considerable worldwide experience of operation gas turbine based infrastructure in low ambient temperatures and a number of ice treatment technologies are well defined. Dovetailing the most cost effective available ice treatments with the existing air intake structures. This and also employing any fortuitous effects such as surface roughness, will improve the overall effectiveness of water repulsion and ice management of gas turbine air intakes across the National Grid fleet.
If successful, the project will provide valuable information as to the effectiveness of conventional hydrophobic coatings for gas turbine air intakes. This will increase unit availability, improve unit reliability, reduce operating costs associated with unit overhaul, maintenance and offers potential improvements in long term unit efficiency.