Gas turbine intake system CFD analysis

Gas turbine performance depends heavily on the quality of air delivered to the compressor face. Pressure losses, temperature non-uniformity, distortion and unsteady flow behaviour can all reduce efficiency, limit power output and increase the likelihood of operational issues. Navier provides high-fidelity Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis to help operators, OEMs and EPCs design, assess and optimise gas turbine intake systems with confidence.

Why intake system CFD matters?

Standard design methods cannot reliably capture the three-dimensional flow structures that develop within complex intake geometries. CFD enables detailed insight into:

Pressure drop across filtration systems and ducting
Velocity and swirl non-uniformity at the compressor face
Crosswinds, icing conditions and environmental influences
Performance of evaporative coolers and intake chillers
Efficiency of anti-icing and heating systems
Flow separation, recirculation and unsteady behaviour
Impact of turning vanes, silencers and filter house layout
Compliance with OEM swirl, distortion and temperature uniformity limits
Coupled behaviour of anti-icing systems, fogging and evaporative cooling devices
Compressor wash nozzle placement and spray coverage

This level of detail helps reduce operational risk, protect compressor health and improve overall plant efficiency.

Typical intake system components analysed

We model the complete intake path, resolving each element that affects turbine performance:

Filter house and weather louvres

Coarse filters, fine filters, EPA and HEPA grades
Salt-laden or humid environments
Pressure drop, clogging sensitivity and bypass risk

Silencers and baffle configurations

Aeroacoustic considerations
Flow separation and turbulence generation
Blockage and loss coefficients

Evaporative coolers, chillers and fogging systems

Heat transfer performance
Water droplet behaviour and risk of carry-over
Pre-cooling strategies for improved power output

Ducting, bends and transitions

Large-radius bends, diffuser sections and area changes
Flow redistribution and loss modelling
Inlet distortion prediction

Compressor face plane analysis

Swirl, velocity distortion and temperature non-uniformity
Assessment against OEM requirements
Mapping into compressor performance models

Example outputs from our CFD studies

Our intake system analyses typically deliver:

Detailed pressure drop breakdown by component
Velocity, swirl and total pressure distortion at the compressor face
Temperature distribution across the inlet plane
Optimised component layouts for reduced loss and improved uniformity
Mitigation recommendations for icing, recirculation and crosswind sensitivity
Performance comparison between design variants

All outputs are presented clearly for engineering teams, operators and OEMs.

Optimisation and design development

Navier can support concept development, FEED studies and detailed design activities. We help clients:

Improve intake efficiency by reducing unnecessary losses
Optimise positioning of filters, coolers and silencers
Develop low-distortion duct geometries
Assess alternative intake configurations
Mitigate performance issues in existing installations
Optimisation of compressor wash nozzle placement and spray coverage

Where required, we also integrate CFD results with 1D system models, structural or thermal assessments or operational data.

When to use CFD for turbine intakes?

CFD is suitable when:

Retrofits or upgrades are being considered
Pressure loss is higher than predicted
The compressor experiences vibration, fouling or stability issues
Intake icing or moisture carry-over is suspected
Crosswinds affect plant performance
New equipment is added near the intake
The site is being repowered with a different turbine package

Why choose Navier for intake system CFD?

Extensive experience supporting industrial gas turbines
Proven methods validated against physical data
Clear reporting aligned with client and OEM expectations
Fully in-house high-performance compute cluster
Ability to model both steady-state and transient behaviour
Independent specialist consultancy focused on quality and transparency

Gas turbine intake systems