energy management 7
commissioning scheduled as the plants are
ready. The equipment is being built at GE’s
gas engine manufacturing centre in Jenbach,
Austria.
Meanwhile, the Austrian company
has also announced that it has used next
generation turbine technology to increase the
output and efficiency of its new, upgraded
Frame 7FA gas turbine and so meet growing
performance requirements demanded by
power plant operators.
The upgraded turbine is designed to help
power plant operators reduce their total cost
of ownership and environmental impact by
allowing them to use less fuel to generate
power.
According to parent company GE, the
continuing evolution of its gas turbine
technology supports a growing industry
trend toward the use of natural gas.
For example, a report by the Colorado
School of Mines indicated that following
recent discoveries, the United States now has
Fig. 2. The CHP engine will eliminate up to 40 per cent of annual carbon dioxide emissions
1800 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, the
from the Ploiesti facility.
equivalent of 320 billion barrels of oil-more
than Saudi Arabia’s 264 billion barrels. That available costs while simultaneously slashing emissions and fuel
supply, coupled with the current low cost and the fact consumption. We have amassed technological advances
that natural gas emits less carbon than other fossil fuels, from across our expansive portfolio of power generating
has spurred many power generators to consider switching and aviation turbines and delivered them in this upgraded
from other fuels to gas. 7FA turbine,” added John Reinker, general manager of
A typical power plant operating two new 7FA gas gas turbine and combined cycle products for GE Energy.
turbines with a single steam turbine in combined cycle “Of the 1000 plus GE F-technology gas turbines shipped
configuration would achieve a fuel cost savings of more worldwide, more than 70 per cent are 7FA units-and
than US$2.1m/y at a natural gas price of US$6 per the advances now available for the 7FA will ensure that
MMBtu when compared to a similar plant with an earlier it continues to be the industry’s workhorse advanced
version of the 7FA for equivalent net plant output. This technology turbine.”
updated plant would also avoid the emission of more
than 19 000 t/y of CO
2
compared to the earlier version,
an improvement equivalent to the CO
2
emissions of
approximately 3800 cars on the roads.
“Investing in the needs of tomorrow with R&D and M
any companies have already evaluated
the new gas turbine technology.
Some of the first new 7FA turbines
are planned for the proposed Oakley
technology is at the foundation of GE and helps us to Generating Station in Oakley, California. The plant,
maintain a competitive advantage in the power generation which is projected to generate 586 MW of power, is
arena,” said Steve Bolze, president of GE Energy’s power being developed by Radback Energy and is expected to be
and water business. “Today’s announcement demonstrates transferred to Pacific Gas and Electric Company after it
our ongoing commitment to GE’s leadership in advanced enters commercial operation.
gas turbine technology that helps deliver power more The new turbine is a part of GE’s ecomagination
efficiently and flexibly to our customers without portfolio, due to the increase in net plant efficiency and
compromising their high standards for operational higher output delivered by this machine compared to
excellence.” all earlier 7FA models, which should result in less fuel
“Since its introduction, our F technology has consumption and lower emissions on a MW/h basis than
consistently set industry standards for reliability and delivered by previous 7FA models.
efficiency,” said Rick Stanley, vice president of engineering Key regions for the upgraded, 60-hertz 7FA will
for GE Energy. “The 7FA upgrade underscores our include North America, Latin America, Saudi Arabia,
commitment to continue refining the technology to meet Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. The upgraded 7FA will
the evolving needs of today’s customers.” begin shipping in early 2012 and will be manufactured
“GE is focused on delivering products and services at GE Energy’s gas turbine facility in Greenville, South
that help our customers save significant operating Carolina, USA. n
www.engineerlive.com
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36