GE’s HEAT* Steam Turbine Technology Joins ecomagination Portfolio

Machines Designed for Improved Power Plant Efficiency and Environmental Performance

COLOGNE, GERMANY.—GE Energy’s HEAT* (High Efficiency, Advanced Technology) steam turbine, designed to improve the efficiency and environmental performance of power plants, has been approved for addition to the ecomagination product portfolio after completing GE’s rigorous ecomagination product review (EPR) process.

“As illustrated by our HEAT technology, GE continues to improve our line of steam turbines, in response to industry requirements for more efficient, reliable power production,” said Trevor Bailey, general manager of GE Energy’s steam turbine business. “We are extremely pleased with the strong performance of this technology in its first seven applications and its inclusion in the ecomagination portfolio.”

Ecomagination is GE’s company-wide initiative to advance technologies that help customers meet pressing operational and environmental challenges. The ecomagination EPR process combines both a rigorous internal analysis and a third-party verification of claims, quantifying operating and environmental performance benefits that accrue to GE’s customers by using ecomagination products. Ecomagination products are re-evaluated on a regular basis to ensure the continued validity of the analysis.

Since ecomagination’s launch in 2005, the product portfolio has grown to more than 80 products with contributions from most of GE’s operating businesses.

GE HEAT steam turbines improve plant efficiency and output for GE’s F-class combined-cycle technology, leading to a lower cost of producing electricity, a critical factor for success in today’s power generation industry. Higher efficiency translates into improved environmental performance with fewer emissions versus previous technology.

Nine GE HEAT steam turbines are currently in commercial operation in natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plants in the United States and Europe and collectively have surpassed 100,000 hours of commercial operation. The 109A-series GE HEAT steam turbine, offered in GE’s 109FB standard plant, has gained strong acceptance in Europe.

Two of these units have each surpassed 20,000 hours of operation, widely regarded as an industry milestone for proving turbine reliability. These milestone machines are operating at the Southern California Public Power Authority Magnolia facility in Burbank, Calif., and at the Tynagh Energy plant in County Galway, Ireland.

Four plants using HEAT technology—SRP Santan near Phoenix, Ariz., and Plana del Vent near Barcelona, Spain, in addition to Magnolia and Tynagh—have received “Power Plant of the Year” awards from leading trade publications over the last several years.

The HEAT steam turbine incorporates numerous improvements over earlier GE steam turbine designs, including a reaction-based, high-pressure turbine design capable of 2,400 psi operating pressure, which contributes to improved steam turbine performance. Integral covered buckets and nozzles ensure a high-quality steam path.

Abradable coating and brush seals developed in conjunction with GE Global Research minimize internal leakage while maintaining tight clearances. Extensive analysis and validation testing prior to its first application helped ensure the reliable operation of the HEAT* technology.