Jenbacher Technical Instruction No.

: 1400-0091
Documentation Fuel gases, avoidance of condensate
(for GE Jenbacher gas engines)

1. Avoidance of condensate in fuel gases for GE Jenbacher gas engines: ______1

1.1 Principles: 1
2. The most common types of condensate formation: _______________________1
2.1 Tips: 2
3. How to avoid malfunctions resulting from condensate in the fuel gas: _______2

1. Avoidance of condensate in fuel gases for GE Jenbacher gas engines:

1.1 Principles:

1.1.1 Malfunctions that occur because the fuel gases supplied are insufficiently free from condensate are not
covered by our warranty. The only exception is where the contractual GE Jenbacher scope of supply
expressly includes a specific fuel gas drier.

1.1.2 Vaporised accompanying substances (which only occur as liquids under certain conditions) in the gas do
not generally cause engine damage (this does not of course apply in the case of gas components such as
halogen compounds, sulphur compounds, etc., which are known to be harmful).

2. The most common types of condensate formation:

Gas Condensate structure Most common consequences for engines

Sewage gas, Corrosion (- - > wear)
Acidic water, sometimes as
biogas and landfill an emulsion with the TAN concentration or ipH reduction in lubricating oil
gas cylinder oil in the gas Carbon deposited on valves, piston ring grooves and
compressor slots
Associated gas Higher hydrocarbon Film of lubricating oil washed off (seizing)
compounds in liquid form Knocking combustion
Edges burnt off
Higher hydrocarbon Carbon deposited on valves, piston ring grooves and
compounds and/or naphtha slots
in liquid form
Propane/butane Liquid propane/butane Film of lubricating oil washed off (seizing)
gas (evaporated Knocking combustion
LPG) Edges burnt off
Carbonisation gas As described above As described above
(e.g. wood gas)

Author: Doku./Bilek (ÜBAL07) Checked: Dokumentation Date: 2002-06

EN 1400-0091_EN.doc Index: b2 Page No.: 1 / 2
 Jenbacher Technical Instruction No.: 1400-0091
Documentation Fuel gases, avoidance of condensate
(for GE Jenbacher gas engines)

2.1 Tips:

2.1.1 In our experience, malfunctions caused by insufficiently dried gas will in most cases first occur outside the
actual engine, i.e. in fittings, equipment and pipelines. These malfunctions should be taken seriously as a
first sign of trouble, as otherwise serious engine breakdowns are likely to follow sooner or later

3. How to avoid malfunctions resulting from condensate in the fuel gas:

3.1 Prevent vapour by allowing gas to cool and/or expand.

3.2 Mechanical separation (e.g. cyclone or separation filter) and by discharging the condensate.

3.3 The fuel gas line leading to the engine must be designed not to allow the gas to continue to cool down,
which means that for all practical purposes it is not expanded by resistance or downstream pressure
reducers. (If necessary, insulate the fuel gas line or provide it with a trace heating system).

3.4 Because, in spite of the freedom from condensate found on the test taps, a certain quantity of condensate
will still find its way into the engine, it is very important to ensure that the condensate is as free from acid-
forming components as possible. To verify this, the pH-value of the aqueous extract taken from the
condensate separators must be checked.
The higher the acid concentration, the greater the harmful effect even where barely perceptible quantities
of condensate are still getting into the engine with the gas.

Author: Doku./Bilek (ÜBAL07) Checked: Dokumentation Date: 2002-06

EN 1400-0091_EN.doc Index: b2 Page No.: 2 / 2