Air Filtration for Power Generation
August 12, 2025, Tuesday
8:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET, USA
$USD 350
$USD 175 (Member Only)
Course Objective
This course provides a comprehensive overview of air filtration systems for land-based gas turbines. It covers the fundamentals of gas turbine operation, the harmful effects of airborne contaminants, and the range of filtration technologies used in power generation. Attendees will gain critical knowledge of how effective air filtration protects turbine components, improves operational efficiency, and reduces maintenance costs. The course emphasizes best practices in filter selection, system design, installation, performance evaluation and maintenance strategies to ensure that air entering the compressor is clean and fit for purpose. The panel experts will discuss recent deveopments, emerging trends, innovations, and opportunities that enhance gas turbine performance through optimized air filtration.
Course Outline
Introduce the fundamental principles of gas turbine operation for power generation.
Discuss the role of air filtration and the impact of airborne contaminants on gas turbine performance.
Explain the importance of operating at design points and how filter performance influences efficiency and reliability.
Examine critical factors in selecting filter types, configurations, and multi-stage filtration systems.
Analyze the dynamics of filter loading and the causes of premature clogging.
Review key standards and performance criteria for air filters used in power generation.
Conclude with a panel discussion on current challenges, emerging technologies, opportunities, and future trends in air filtration for gas turbines.
Instructor Biography

Dr. Iyad Al-Attar
Lead Instructor
Dr. Al-Attar, Strategic Director of the World Filtration Institute. is a mechanical engineer and an independent air filtration consultant. He is also a Visiting Academic Fellow in the School of Aerospace, Transport, and Manufacturing at Cranfield University, consulting for air quality and filter performance relevant to land-based gas turbines. In 2020, EUROVENT Middle East appointed Dr. Al-Attar as the first associated consultant for air filtration affairs. Dr. Al-Attar received his engineering degrees (BSc, MSc, Ph.D.) from the University of Toronto (Canada), Kuwait University, and Loughborough University (UK), respectively.
Dr. Al-Attar’s area of expertise focuses on designing and performing high-efficiency filters for HVAC and land-based gas turbine applications, particularly on the chemical and physical characterization of airborne particles. Dr. Al-Attar is a columnist in the EUROVENT Middle East newsletter, Climate Control Middle East Magazine, ES Engineering, USA, and Caloryfrio Magazine, Spain. He has authored many articles on air quality, filter design, performance, particle characterization, and climate change, which were translated into Arabic and Spanish. Dr. Al-Attar is an editorial member/referee in the Filtration Society (UK) and the Journal of Cleaner Production.

Ms. Sophie Bélanger
Co-instructor
Ms. Sophie Bélanger, VP of Product and Innovation at Camfil Power Systems, a global leader in advanced clean air solutions tailored for turbomachinery. Sophie holds a Bachelor of International Studies and a Master of Business Administration from HEC University, Montréal. With over 15 years of experience in the filtration industry, Sophie is a seasoned professional known for developing, launching, and selling innovative products focused on the power generation and oil and gas industries. She has a deep market understanding and has held key positions in Product Management, Business Development, Marketing, and Project Execution, consistently delivering value by focusing on industry and customer needs.
In her current role, Sophie focus on identifying the next opportunities for innovation across the industry, developing technical solutions that perform in the most challenging environments on earth, while being sustainable and offering high value to users. With a deep passion for transmitting knowledge, she has also developed a series of training programs for users, bringing them into Camfil research facilities around the world.

Dr. Marc Schmidt
Co-instructor
Dr. Marc Schmidt is Vice President of Technologies Europe at AAF International and a well-recognized expert in air filtration. He holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany. With a strong international background, Dr. Schmidt has a proven track record in product and process development, sales, technical marketing, business development, and operations management across the filter and nonwovens industries in both Europe and China. In addition to his corporate role, he serves as Chairman of the Eurovent Product Group Filters (PG-FIL), where he contributes to shaping standards and advancing best practices in the field. Dr. Schmidt also engages in international consulting and technical training related to air filtration on behalf of AAF International and is a frequent speaker at international conferences and symposia, sharing his expertise on filtration technologies and market trends.
Panelists
Dr. Jenny Berens, Director, FFT Industrial, Filter Engineering, Freudenberg Filtration Technologies, Noth America, earned her M. Sc. in Chemical Engineering at Kungliga Tekniska Hogskolan, Stockholm Sweden, and her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at University of Kentucky, KY, USA. After postdoc work at the Valvoline Research Center in Lexington KY, she has continued to dedicate her career to R&D, specializing in material technology, particulate science, and filtration. Since 2017, Dr. Berens has been employed by Freudenberg Filtration Technologies. Dr. Berens is actively contributing to industry guidelines at ASHRAE and ISO and is currently serving as a board member on the TC2.4 (Particulate Air Contaminants and Particulate Contaminant Removal Equipment) and the ASHRAE 52.2 (Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size) committees as well as a member of the ISO/TC US TAG 142 - Cleaning equipment for air and other gases.SHRAE, the Egyptian Syndicate of Engineers, and the Kuwait Society of Engineers.
Mr. Mike Malloy, Communications Director of the World Filtration Institute, has more than 25 years’ experience developing, launching, and selling Filtration Media Solutions, collaborating with global leaders on some of the industry’s most innovative products. He is a strategic commercial leader who believes that Filtration is an essential tool in creating a cleaner world that provides sustainable prosperity for all its people. In roles ranging from Product Marketing to Business Development to Sales Leadership, he has created long-term value working with top technology and market teams in segments like Indoor Air Quality, Cabin Air, Fluid Power, and Life Sciences, and has a comprehensive understanding of the media manufacturing processes that support them. Mike specializes in translating complex technical concepts into actionable plans and profitable products through multi-functional engagement and team leadership. He is currently the Principal of Malloy Strategies, LLC, specializing in Innovative Sales and Marketing Strategies for the Filtration Industry. Mike holds a Bachelor of Science in English and a Master of Public Administration from Iowa State University.
Dr. Christine Sun, President of WFI, is a renowned technical and market expert in the global filtration industry. With over 30 years of experience in both academia and the industry, she has an in-depth knowledge of filtration, and extensive hands-on expertise in product development, with over 100 technical publications and patents. She is also actively involved in many air/liquid filter standard test developments. Dr. Sun received her Ph.D. from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, and her Executive Certificate from Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management. From 2004 to 2011, Dr. Sun worked for Freudenberg Filtration Technologies as the R&D manager and Technology Director for Donaldson 2011-2013. She was the AFS Chair from 2016 to 2017 and received the AFS Fellow Award in 2019, Sr. Scientist Award in 2012, and the best paper award from INDA in 2008. She is also an editorial board member for Journal of Industrial Textiles.