DASH System

Rapid response to changing load

demands in duct-fired plants

White Paper | June 2016

With a growing portfolio of weather dependent renewable energy around the world,
the need to respond to frequent fluctuation in electricity demand is rapidly
increasing. For combined cycle plants operating with supplemental firing, the plant
ramp rate has been limited by the ramp rate of the duct burners. Gas turbines are
able to ramp much faster than duct burners, so plants utilizing supplemental firing
are at a disadvantage. The Siemens DASH system solves that problem.

With DASH, a duct fired Flex-Plant combined cycle plant can ramp as quickly as
an unfired plant at the maximum ramp rate of the gas turbine. The DASH system
enables operation on grid control and allows for fast response to changing load
demands, thus opening opportunities to participate in ancillary service markets.
Now grid support for renewables can be achieved using combined cycle technology
that, compared to simple cycles, reduces fuel consumption and greenhouse gas
emissions. Therefore, incorporation of DASH leads to an integrated portfolio of
generation for a cleaner, greener future.

Introduction
Siemens DASH technology enables a Flex-Plant with supplemental firing to move
quickly by taking the ramp rate limitation of the duct burners out of the equation.

The primary benefits of DASH include:

Rapid response to changing load demands through elimination of duct burner
ramp limitation
Ability to light off duct burners at lower gas turbine loads
No 100% gas turbine load hold to light off duct burners
Elimination of plant load dead band between 100% GT load with and without
duct burners
Base load power with full duct burners in operation from minimum plant load in
less than 15 minutes

Subject to change without prior notice.

Siemens Energy, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. siemens.com/powerplants

Background
In combined cycle power plants with supplemental firing,
load changes after the gas turbines have reached full load are
typically achieved by increasing or decreasing the amount of
fuel supplied to the duct burners. This fuel change alters the
heat input to the heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) and
the amount of water heated and steam created, which
increases or decreases the power output of the steam turbine.
Due to the physics behind the boiling process, the water
heating process is not instantaneous which slows down the
reaction time when changing load with a duct burner. Typical
ramp rates for duct firing are in the range of 3 MW/min.
In a gas turbine, combusted fuel results in an immediate
temperature and pressure increase and the load change is
almost immediate.
In the operating scheme of a traditional duct fired plant, the
gas turbine is fully dispatched first, and then the duct burners
are fired for additional power. A reduction in output is
achieved doing the reverse. Duct burners are ramped off
before the gas turbine is ramped down. The result is that the
ramp rate for load changes is limited to the slow reaction time
of the duct firing.
Subject to change without prior notice.
Siemens Energy, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved.
White paper | DASH System | June 2016
Discussion
Todays Flex-Plants are designed to start fast, ramp fast, and
react fast to changes in demand. To enable this fast moving
behavior for duct fired plants, Siemens created DASH
technology.
With DASH, the gas turbine and duct burners work together
to keep the plant ramp rate fast.
Siemens, working in partnership with NEM, developed the
system so that all temperatures and pressures are maintained
within the normal operating regime of the boiler during DASH
operation, thus minimizing any impacts on boiler design.
The flexibility of the Siemens Benson and Drum-Plus boiler
technology is required to handle the increasing and decreasing
temperatures during DASH operation.
The Siemens DASH system uses a combination of gas turbine
and duct burner load changes to result in the ability to change
load quickly. As shown the figure above, the ramp rate of a
plant with DASH is much faster than a conventional duct fired
plant, and is similar to a plant without duct burners.
2
 White paper | DASH System | June 2016

DASH vs. Conventional Plant Ramp

100%
UN-DUCT FIRED PLANT LOAD

DASH Plant Load

DASH Plant Ramp Conventional Plant Load

Conventional Plant Ramp

0%
TIME

Conclusion
Siemens is focused on providing innovative and competitive
solutions that help power plants meet the needs of the future.
DASH has been proven to enable fast load changes in plants
with duct firing.
The plants were able to move at the maximum plant ramp
rate over nearly the entire operating range, creating the
opportunity for the plant to provide ancillary services that
conventional duct fired facilities cannot. This results in an
additional revenue stream for the plant owner.

Siemens Flex-Plants are designed to meet a full range of At Siemens, integration of the combined cycle is key. DASH is
dispatch options with one plant. DASH technology has been the next step in evolution, enabling supplemental firing and
tested and proven on multiple 2x1 SGT6-5000F Flex-Plants. fast response in an efficient, reliable solution.

Siemens Energy, Inc.

4400 Alafaya Trail
Orlando, FL 32826-2399
USA
Tel: 888-593-7876

The information in this document contains general descriptions

of the technical options available, which may not apply in all
cases. The required technical options should therefore be
specified in the contract.

Subject to change without prior notice.

Siemens Energy, Inc. 2016. All rights reserved. 3