Gas Turbine Inlet Anti-Icing

The formation of ice in gas turbine inlet systems can occur if ambient temperatures reach 40°F or lower with a relative humidity greater than 50%. This ice can inhibit performance and potentially cause damage to the turbine. ATCO Emissions Management has designed an anti-icing system that protects the turbine from icing conditions during cold, humid weather.

Traditional gas turbine anti-icing systems utilize an in-duct heat
exchanger at the cost of high pressure drop and loss of engine performance, whether in anti-icing mode or not. Other anti-icing systems utilize compression bleed air which reduces turbine mass flow, and again, with significant loss of engine performance. The advantage of the ATCO Emissions Management system lies in its simplicity - low pressure drop resulting in minimal impact on engine efficiency and ease of maintenance with no environmental impact, including minimal noise radiation. 

Our unique and proprietary anti-icing system uses waste heat from the engine exhaust gas with virtually zero loss of engine performance:

• The system is configured in such a manner that ambient air is transported through the heat exchanger via a blower. 
• The blower forces the fresh ambient air into a collector header, which in turn distributes the air through a series of tubes running along the axial flow length of the gas path and heat exchanger. 
• The heated air is then collected in an exit collector and transported through circular ducting up to the first stage of the inlet filter. 
• The heated air is introduced evenly over the face of the inlet filter. By providing this air upstream from the first stage of the inlet filter, the entire inlet system is protected.

This configuration allows for the provision of the heated air very early in the operating cycle, with an option for electric heating elements that provide heat the instant the turbine starts up. The simplicity of this system allows it to be activated at any time during operation.


The ATCO Emissions Management gas turbine inlet anti-icing system provides:

• Quiet operation with no environmental impact (no glycol disposal)
• Protection of vital turbine components
• Utilization of waste heat from exhaust
• Virtually zero system pressure drop
• Guaranteed minimum 10°F temperature rise at gas turbine mouth (higher rise available)
• Minimal maintenance
• Adaptability to any gas turbine model
• Low noise option

With almost 100 units operating successfully in the field, we can offer proven, efficient designs at a competitive cost. To find out more about how we can engineer an inlet anti-icing system for you, please contact us.