TECHNOLOGIES

GE has been manufacturing steam turbines

for more than 100 years. Over that time, the
energy industry has changed significantly,
and GE has adapted its steam turbine product
portfolio to meet those needs.

STEAM TURBINES
A TECHNOLOGY THAT EVOLVES
TO MEET CHANGING INDUSTRY NEEDS

5,600
GE units
operating around
the world

110,000
hours
of commercial service for
the installed fleet of HEAT
steam turbines

2,400
PSI

(165 bars) operating

pressure

n the mid-1990s, the surge for new power

generation sparked the introduction of a large
number of combined-cycle power plants. In
response to our customers, GE has continuously driven steam-turbine technology advancement to deliver higher efficiency and improved
operability of combined-cycle steam turbines,
said Tom Gadoury, Combined-Cycle and Renewables Product Leader.
GE has taken a systems-engineering approach
to challenge constraints in key areas affecting
performance and operability. This approach,
coupled with GEs extensive experience in providing combined-cycle contractual services,
enabled the development of solutions like its
Rapid Response controls enhancement for A
and D series combined-cycle steam turbines.
In addition to advanced combined-cycle steamturbine products, GE continues to offer a full
range of steam turbines for fossil-fired, integrated
gasification/combined-cycle, industrial, petrochemical, nuclear and renewable applications.
The operating GE steam turbine fleet exceeds
5,600 units around the world across this extensive application range, Gadoury said.

Rapid Response
In a continued effort to improve performance
and operability of our combined-cycle technol2l

CONNEXION

ogy, GE has introduced Rapid Response capability, which allows the gas turbine to be decoupled
from the steam turbine during plant startup, reducing gas turbine startup emissions, enabling
faster steam turbine output and enhancing
steam turbine operational flexibility. This capability is available on the GE 107A, 207D, 109A
and 209D combined-cycle steam turbines.
From a combined-cycle perspective, Rapid Response enables the gas turbine to reach its desired load before loading the steam turbine during plant startup. This system supports the
management of gas turbine exhaust energy to
enable improved steam-turbine loading. Using
a systems-based approach, major changes to
the steam turbine design are not required to
support this capability.
Plants with Rapid Response capability provide
greater operational flexibility compared to
conventional plants. Through the use of the
concept of an allowable turbine operational
space which defines operational boundaries
dynamic-control loading rates and split pressuretemperature loading are utilized, allowing
enhanced startup and operational flexibility.
In summary, GEs Rapid Response technology
opens up opportunities for improving customer
value through innovative design and operation
of combined-cycle equipment.

Tom Gadoury,
Combined-Cycle and
Renewables Product
Leader

GEEnergy EPC Associates Magazine

Whats New ?
Looking to the future, GE has
teamed up with Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries Ltd (MHI) of
Japan to co-develop a nextgeneration steam turbine
for use in combined-cycle
power plants. Development
of a new, advanced steam
turbine is viewed by both
companies as a key step
in meeting customer
requirements for increased
combined-cycle efficiency
and performance worldwide.
Under the agreement, which
was finalized in 2009, GE and
Mitsubishi will separately
manufacture and sell the codeveloped steam turbine in
support of their respective
natural gas-fired, combinedcycle power generation
product lines. The new
steam turbine will enter
commercial service coupled
with the GE FrameFB and

HEAT: High-Efficiency AdvancedTechnology Steam Turbines

Introduced in 2002, the GE HEAT steam turbine
offers improved efficiency and output for
Fclass combined-cycle power plants, resulting
in a lower cost of producing electricity a critical requirement for success in todays highly
competitive power generation industry. A product certified under GEs corporate-wide
ecomagination initiative recognizing advanced
technologies that help customers meet pressing operational and environmental challenges,

Number 4 l April 2010

the HEAT steam turbine provides higher efficiency, directly translating into improved environmental performance through the reduction
of plant emissions.
Twelve HEAT steam turbines are in commercial
operation in natural gas-fired, combined-cycle
power plants in the US and Europe, in both 60Hz
and 50Hz applications.
The installed fleet of HEAT steam turbines has
surpassed 110,000 hours of commercial service,
with two units surpassing 20,000 hours of operation, widely regarded as an industry milestone for validating the reliability of steam turbines. Those
milestone machines are operating in Burbank, California and
County Galway, Ireland. In addition, four plants using GEs HEAT
technology have received Power Plant of the Year awards from
leading trade publications over
the last several years.
Our HEAT steam turbine is a reheat technology developed for
our combined-cycle products,
also providing broad application
potential across our product
portfolio, says Gadoury. It incorporates numerous advances

the MHI G-class gas turbines

in the 50Hz segment of the
global power-generation
market. These gas turbine
models typically are used for
combined-cycle power plants
in the range of 850-1,000MW.
GE has a long history of
working with other suppliers
and manufacturers to
accelerate the pace at
which advanced technology
products are brought
to market. Under this
agreement, GE and MHI are
sharing best practices and
development activities to
bring a next-generation,
high-performance steam
turbine to the combinedcycle market faster than
either company could
individually achieve,
said Tom Gadoury, GEs
Combined-Cycle and
Renewables Product Leader.

over earlier GE steam turbines, including a reaction-based, high-pressure turbine design capable of 2,400 psi (165 bar) operating pressures,
with integral covered blades and nozzles contributing to improved steam turbine performance.
Abradable and brush sealing technologies, developed in conjunction with our GE Global Research Center, provide minimal losses while
maintaining critical operational flexibility. Extensive analysis and validation testing prior to its
first application secured the reliable operation of
the HEAT steam turbines from the first application.
GE is at the leading edge of this technology and
continues to develop innovative steam turbine
solutions to support the worlds diverse powergeneration needs. Combined-cycle power
plants have provided and will continue to provide a competitive, economic and environmentally responsible contribution.

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