First Time in China: GE’s 9FA Advanced Gas Path Technology to Boost Efficiency at Shanghai Caojing’s Power Station

March 28, 2017

GE’s Advanced Gas Path Technology Will Help Increase Output by Approximately 25 Megawatts, Boost Efficiency and Reduce Emissions at the PlantStation Serves as Model for Utilities in China Seeking to Make Their Plants More Efficient and Reliable

SHANGHAI—March 28, 2017—GE’s Power Services (NYSE: GE) signed a milestone agreement to provide Advanced Gas Path (AGP) upgrades for two GE 9FA gas turbines at the Caojing combined-cycle power station in China, marking the company’s first 9FA AGP upgrade in the country. The deal will help increase the output and efficiency of the 790-megawatt (MW) plant—the largest industrial cogeneration facility in Shanghai. In addition, GE signed a 25-year services agreement with Shanghai Caojing Co-Generation Co., Ltd., the owner of the Caojing power station, extending a previous collaboration between the two companies.

“China’s surging energy demands and continued growth in the petrochemical industry make it essential for us to continually improve the performance and availability of the Caojing combined-cycle plant to support local production requirements,” said Mr. Peigang Shi, general manager of Shanghai Caojing Co-Generation Co., Ltd. “This upgrade project will enable us to boost our supply of power and steam to the Shanghai Chemical Industry Park—one of the leading petrochemical bases in Asia—with higher efficiency and without increasing emissions.”

The gas turbine AGP technology, part of GE’s Fleet360* platform of total plant solutions, is engineered to increase turbine output by more than 6 percent, reduce heat rate by more than 1.5 percent and extend maintenance intervals from 24,000 to 32,000 factored hours—a leading figure in the industry.

Increasing the efficiency of existing thermal power plants has become a top global priority as countries seek to reach their emissions-reduction goals. GE’s recent Ecomagination study found that carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from the world’s fleets of natural gas and coal-fired plants can be reduced by 10 percent when existing hardware and software solutions are fully applied. Upgrades to existing plants can be done relatively quickly and cost-effectively. According to the study, the average global efficiency of gas plants can be improved by up to 1.8 percent through hardware improvements such as turbine and boiler upgrades and an additional 1.5 percent through software solutions and data analytics.

“The AGP and software upgrades can be implemented in the upcoming major outage, therefore delivering immediate benefit to Caojing,” said Sunny Xue, commercial general manager for GE’s Power Services in China. “Thanks to advanced material and flow-path design, our AGP technology provides 9FA.03 gas turbines with improved efficiency, longer maintenance intervals and longer parts life, helping to assure our customer’s units remain competitive over time.”

The deal extends a previous services agreement signed by GE and Shanghai Caojing Co-Generation Company in 2013, which saw implementation of the first Dry Low NOx 2.6+ combustion system upgrade for 9FA.03 gas turbines in Asia. That upgrade helped the Caojing plant achieve NOx emissions levels below 15 parts per million, a 40 percent reduction from the previous level.

About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com

About GE Power

GE Power is a world leader in power generation with deep domain expertise to help customers deliver electricity from a wide spectrum of fuel sources. We are transforming the electricity industry with the digital power plant, the world’s largest and most efficient gas turbine, full balance of plant, upgrade and service solutions as well as our data-leveraging software. Our innovative technologies and digital offerings help make power more affordable, reliable, accessible and sustainable.

For more information, visit the company's website at www.gepower.com/. Follow GE Power on Twitter @GE_Power and on LinkedIn at GE Power.

About GE’s Power Services

GE’s Power Services, headquartered in Baden, Switzerland, delivers world-class solutions for our customers across total plant assets and their operational lifetimes. This organization supports 2,800+ customers worldwide with an installed base of 28,000+ power generation assets, which includes other OEMs, and taps into the Industrial Internet to improve the performance of our solutions over the entire life cycle through the power of software and big data analytics.

For more information, please visit powergen.gepower.com. Follow GE’s Power Services on Twitter @GEPowerServices and on LinkedIn at GE Power Services.

* Trademark of GE: may be registered in one or more countries. 

China’s New “Weather-Controlling Tech” Could Make it Rain on Demand

Third Party Contents

 FuturismMS

IN BRIEF

China has spent $168 million on cloud seeding technology to hopefully manipulate the weather and combat drought and extreme weather due to climate changeCloud seeding technology has existed for a long time, however because of early false claims and deep-rooted skepticism, there isn't sufficient research to back up the tech

CLOUD SEEDING

The China Meteorological Administration wants to increase rainfall and snow across 960,000 square kilometers of the country. A more effective way of making this happen that doesn’t involve a ritualistic rain dance? Spending $168 million on cloud seeding technology that they hope will allow them to manipulate the weather.

Here’s how it works. The money will be invested into four new aircrafts, upgrading eight existing planes, and launching 900 rocket systems that will allow them to sprinkle substances above the clouds that could induce the rainmaking process. These substances range from silver iodide to dry ice. Adding these chemicals into clouds might lower their temperature and speed up the condensation process.

While this method has yet to be scientifically proven, the country claims it has already helped them to increase precipitation by 55 billion cubic meters from 2006 to 2016, especially in the western part of China.

“The […] project is expected to help with “ecological security, water resource allocation, drought fighting and forest fire prevention” in Gansu, Shaanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, all of which are western regions plagued by water shortages.” reports The South China Morning Post.

MAKE IT RAIN

Cloud seeding schemes have been around for years. And theoretically, the method makes scientific sense. However, unrealistic claims regarding its success when it was first introduced prompted experiments with cloud seeding to be regarded with apprehension. Through the years, the consensus among weather scientists was that cloud seeding’s positive results had to be supported with greater scientific data. Ultimately, even with advanced tools and techniques, it’s still very difficult to establish whether weather conditions were prompted artificially or naturally-occurring.

However, this lack of concrete evidence hasn’t stopped people from using this weather modification technique. China, for instance, has used the method to ensure weather conditions for major events like the Beijing Olympics. Back in 2008, China launched over a thousand rockets to release silver iodide over the city sky to clear storm clouds and ensure that the international event would remain rain-free.

To that end, they’re now hoping that the same technique will work to address changes in temperature and precipitation caused by climate change, especially in drought-stricken regions, cities where they need to increase rainfall, or in cities suffering from heavy smog where they need rain to clear the air.

There is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding cloud seeding, and scientists are still trying to find concrete solutions in the technique. But continued research into the field will indeed prove to be invaluable during a time where countries continue to experience extreme weather events due to climate change.

References: Tech Insider, South China Morning Post

AUTHORJune Javelosa February 15, 2017EDITORChelsea Gohd@chelsea_gohd Website

This is what happens in your brain when you quit sugar

Third party content

This is what happens to your brain when you give up sugar.

Image: REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

This is what happens to your brain when you give up sugar.

Image: REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

Written by

Jordan Gaines Lewis, Neuroscience Doctoral Candidate, Pennsylvania State University

Thursday 16 March 2017

Anyone who knows me also knows that I have a huge sweet tooth. I always have. My friend and fellow graduate student Andrew is equally afflicted, and living in Hershey, Pennsylvania – the “Chocolate Capital of the World” – doesn’t help either of us.

But Andrew is braver than I am. Last year, he gave up sweets for Lent. I can’t say that I’m following in his footsteps this year, but if you are abstaining from sweets for Lent this year, here’s what you can expect over the next 40 days.

Sugar: natural reward, unnatural fix

In neuroscience, food is something we call a “natural reward.” In order for us to survive as a species, things like eating, having sex and nurturing others must be pleasurable to the brain so that these behaviours are reinforced and repeated.

Evolution has resulted in the mesolimbic pathway, a brain system that deciphers these natural rewards for us. When we do something pleasurable, a bundle of neurons called the ventral tegmental area uses the neurotransmitter dopamine to signal to a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens. The connection between the nucleus accumbens and our prefrontal cortex dictates our motor movement, such as deciding whether or not to taking another bite of that delicious chocolate cake. The prefrontal cortex also activates hormones that tell our body: “Hey, this cake is really good. And I’m going to remember that for the future.”

Not all foods are equally rewarding, of course. Most of us prefer sweets over sour and bitter foods because, evolutionarily, our mesolimbic pathway reinforces that sweet things provide a healthy source of carbohydrates for our bodies. When our ancestors went scavenging for berries, for example, sour meant “not yet ripe,” while bitter meant “alert – poison!”

Fruit is one thing, but modern diets have taken on a life of their own. A decade ago, it was estimated that the average American consumed 22 teaspoons of added sugar per day, amounting to an extra 350 calories; it may well have risen since then. A few months ago, one expert suggested that the average Briton consumes 238 teaspoonsof sugar each week.

Today, with convenience more important than ever in our food selections, it’s almost impossible to come across processed and prepared foods that don’t have added sugars for flavour, preservation, or both.

These added sugars are sneaky – and unbeknown to many of us, we’ve become hooked. In ways that drugs of abuse – such as nicotine, cocaine and heroin – hijack the brain’s reward pathway and make users dependent, increasing neuro-chemical and behavioural evidence suggests that sugar is addictive in the same way, too.

Sugar addiction is real

“The first few days are a little rough,” Andrew told me about his sugar-free adventure last year. “It almost feels like you’re detoxing from drugs. I found myself eating a lot of carbs to compensate for the lack of sugar.”

There are four major components of addiction: bingeing, withdrawal, craving, and cross-sensitisation (the notion that one addictive substance predisposes someone to becoming addicted to another). All of these components have been observed in animal models of addiction – for sugar, as well as drugs of abuse.

A typical experiment goes like this: rats are deprived of food for 12 hours each day, then given 12 hours of access to a sugary solution and regular chow. After a month of following this daily pattern, rats display behaviours similar to those on drugs of abuse. They’ll binge on the sugar solution in a short period of time, much more than their regular food. They also show signs of anxiety and depression during the food deprivation period. Many sugar-treated rats who are later exposed to drugs, such as cocaine and opiates, demonstrate dependent behaviours towards the drugs compared to rats who did not consume sugar beforehand.

Like drugs, sugar spikes dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Over the long term, regular sugar consumption actually changes the gene expression and availability of dopamine receptors in both the midbrain and frontal cortex. Specifically, sugar increases the concentration of a type of excitatory receptor called D1, but decreases another receptor type called D2, which is inhibitory. Regular sugar consumption also inhibits the action of the dopamine transporter, a protein which pumps dopamine out of the synapse and back into the neuron after firing.

In short, this means that repeated access to sugar over time leads to prolonged dopamine signalling, greater excitation of the brain’s reward pathways and a need for even more sugar to activate all of the midbrain dopamine receptors like before. The brain becomes tolerant to sugar – and more is needed to attain the same “sugar high.”

Sugar withdrawal is also real

Although these studies were conducted in rodents, it’s not far-fetched to say that the same primitive processes are occurring in the human brain, too. “The cravings never stopped, [but that was] probably psychological,” Andrew told me. “But it got easier after the first week or so.”

In a 2002 study by Carlo Colantuoni and colleagues of Princeton University, rats who had undergone a typical sugar dependence protocol then underwent “sugar withdrawal.” This was facilitated by either food deprivation or treatment with naloxone, a drug used for treating opiate addiction which binds to receptors in the brain’s reward system. Both withdrawal methods led to physical problems, including teeth chattering, paw tremors, and head shaking. Naloxone treatment also appeared to make the rats more anxious, as they spent less time on an elevated apparatus that lacked walls on either side.

Similar withdrawal experiments by others also report behaviour similar to depression in tasks such as the forced swim test. Rats in sugar withdrawal are more likely to show passive behaviours (like floating) than active behaviours (like trying to escape) when placed in water, suggesting feelings of helplessness.

A new study published by Victor Mangabeira and colleagues in this month’s Physiology & Behavior reports that sugar withdrawal is also linked to impulsive behaviour. Initially, rats were trained to receive water by pushing a lever. After training, the animals returned to their home cages and had access to a sugar solution and water, or just water alone. After 30 days, when rats were again given the opportunity to press a lever for water, those who had become dependent on sugar pressed the lever significantly more times than control animals, suggesting impulsive behaviour.

These are extreme experiments, of course. We humans aren’t depriving ourselves of food for 12 hours and then allowing ourselves to binge on soda and doughnuts at the end of the day. But these rodent studies certainly give us insight into the neuro-chemical underpinnings of sugar dependence, withdrawal, and behaviour.

Through decades of diet programmes and best-selling books, we’ve toyed with the notion of “sugar addiction” for a long time. There are accounts of those in “sugar withdrawal” describing food cravings, which can trigger relapse and impulsive eating. There are also countless articles and books about the boundless energy and new-found happiness in those who have sworn off sugar for good. But despite the ubiquity of sugar in our diets, the notion of sugar addiction is still a rather taboo topic.

Are you still motivated to give up sugar for Lent? You might wonder how long it will take until you’re free of cravings and side-effects, but there’s no answer – everyone is different and no human studies have been done on this. But after 40 days, it’s clear that Andrew had overcome the worst, likely even reversing some of his altered dopamine signalling. “I remember eating my first sweet and thinking it was too sweet,” he said. “I had to rebuild my tolerance.”

And as regulars of a local bakery in Hershey – I can assure you, readers, that he has done just that.

GE´S GENTLE GIANT ROBOTS: HELPING CREATE CLEANER POWER FOR HUMANS

March 16, 2017

Robots come in many shapes, sizes and iterations. And though most of us envision the gleaming cyborgs or giant armored machines gleaned from decades of science fiction, at GE, robots are helping one of its Distributed Power manufacturing facilities become safer, more cost effective and efficient.

Making its debut in Jenbach, Austria, a different kind of robot is now working alongside its human brethren. A giant robot named Goliath is helping GE staff manufacture some of the most efficient, cleanest, high tech gas engines in the world, faster and safer than ever before. With a power range of 100 kW to 10 MW, they can run on a variety of fuels, including natural gas, biogas, coal seam gases and associated petroleum gases.

The Jenbacher* gas engines produced with Goliath are used in dozens of applications, like hospitals, power plants, greenhouses, residencies and even other factories to produce power, heat and cooling. They are particularly popular for renewable and waste-to-energy, industrial power generation—or any place that faces challenging conditions, difficult fuel gases, or benefits from power that needs to be produced at or near the point of use, anytime and on or off the grid.

GE´s FANUC M2000 900l, i.e. Goliath, may be named after the biblical giant because of size, but it’s is certainly not a fighter. A six-axis industrial robot with a massive reach of just over 15 feet, Goliath was introduced to help gently lift and place tremendously heavy cylinder heads and connecting rods (up to 926 pounds) perfectly during the milling process. And because the colossal behemoth can serve parts for up to three milling machines, plant employees no longer need to touch the parts for handling activities. This allows just one employee to operate an entire portion of the assembly process.

Manufactured in Japan, with programming designed and created by GE internal experts in Austria, Goliath uses sensors to help its operator monitor performance and gather data for continuous improvement. “These advanced analytics not only help improve the factory’s work, but help us to advance the speed of production for the entire facility,” says Martin Mühlbacher, Global Supply Chain site and production leader at GE Power’s Distributed Power business in Jenbach, Austria, “As one of GE´s seven Brilliant Factory showcases our Global Supply Chain team strive to combine lean manufacturing and enhanced productivity with analytics to improve outcomes. Goliath is a big example of that.”

So, next time you’re regaled with tales about futuristic, fantastical robotic technology, remember Goliath and the many other GE giant robots working happily and efficiently to bring electricity to thousands of humans and helping to power everyone with cleaner, greener energy.

*Indicates a trademark of the General Electric Company

GE Sales First 9 HA Gas Turbine to China

China’s Harbin Electric Corp. (HE) has awarded GE a contract to provide a 9HA gas turbine for the 650 MW Huadian Tianjin Junliangcheng VI gas combined-cycle power plant project (“Junliangcheng”).

Delivery of the gas turbine, which will be the first HA to be installed in China, is scheduled for the third quarter of 2018.

“GE has worked closely with HE for more than a decade, and today’s announcement represents a significant milestone in our journey to deliver the world’s most advanced gas turbine technology in China,” said Joe Mastrangelo, president and CEO, GE’s Gas Power Systems. “Bringing the HA to China is important for the acceleration of China’s power industry, enabling more affordable, reliable, accessible and sustainable power generation.”

 Over the last 10 years, the Chinese gas electricity industry has seen growth of 334%. The 13^th Five Year Plan of Electricity Development estimates that from 2015 to 2020 the installed capacity of gas electricity will increase over 10%, reaching 110 GW. A combined-cycle power plant featuring the 9HA turbine with high efficiency, flexibility and low emissions is well positioned to answer the nation’s call for cleaner energy and infrastructure improvement.

Set to be one of the most efficient power plants in the country upon completion, Junliangcheng is expected to bring a combined-cycle efficiency of over 62%, reduce SO_x emission by up to 1194 tons, NO_x emissions by up to 500 tons, and CO² emissions by more than two million tons per year. Junliangcheng is also able to provide a heat supply up to 14.5 million square meters to be available for the city center and the outer regions of Tianjin. The facility is being converted from a coal-fired power plant to a gas-fired power plant with GE technology, and will save coal consumption of over one million tons annually.

 “It’s exciting to bring the world’s most advanced gas turbine technology to China,” said Yang Dan, vice president of GE Power China. “By combining decades of experience in delivering outcomes to local customers, GE is perfectly positioned to customize our technology to fit local power needs.”

 The gas turbine drives the overall output and efficiency levels of the plants. The first GE HA combined-cycle power plant was inaugurated in Bouchain, France, in June of 2016 and was immediately celebrated for setting a world record by achieving a net efficiency of 62.22%.

HE is one of the 53 major state-owned enterprises and under the direct management of the Chinese central government. In the past 60 years, HE has been leading the development of Chinese equipment manufacturing sector. HE has shaped flagship products across a variety of sectors with world leading technologies. HE’s offerings include nuclear power, hydro power, coal and gas power generation equipment, vessels power generation equipment, electric motor units, and power plant turn-key projects. HE has manufactured power generation equipment of 390 GW, equipping over 500 power plants globally and exporting to more than 40 countries and regions including Asia, Africa, Europe and South America.

DRESSER RAND KG2 Gas Turbines

Power Generation 2 MW

The KG2 gas turbine is an industrial gas turbine with a power output range of 2MW. This gas turbine combines minimal maintenance with a compact and rugged construction to make it ideal for continuous power generation on- and offshore, emergency and stand-by power and combined heat and power (CHP) plants. Because of its simple, low-maintenance design, high reliability and operational experience, the KG2 turbine generator package is the preferred solution for 2MW power requirements. The wide fuel range enables operation on extremely low heating value fuels, landfill gas, and associated gas from crude oil production.  The KG2 is also available in an externally fired configuration for those customers with off-combustor technologies.

Overview of Benefits

• High availability and operating reliability
• Competitive cost-to-power ratio
• Outstanding load acceptance and shedding characteristics
• Available with a Dry Low Emissions (DLE) combustion system or Power Oxidizer for low NOx emissions
• On-site maintenance possible
• Rapid core engine exchange option (minimizes downtime)
• Proven in applications in combined heat and power (CHP) plants

Applications

Industrial power generation

For industrial power generation, the KG2 gas turbine is suitable for the following applications:

• Gas turbine power plants (simple cycle applications)
• Combined cycle power plants (combined cycle applications)
• Combined heat and power (CHP)
• Power generation for the oil and gas industry, on offshore platforms and FPSO vessels (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading)

Low Emissions

The KG2 3G is available with a Dry Low Emissions (DLE) combustion system, providing extremely low NOx emission levels.

If ultra-low emissions are required due to strict environmental regulations, then the KG2 with Power Oxidizer is the gas turbine of choice.  With the Power Oxidizer the system can be operated with NOx, CO and VOC emissions all at levels less than 1PPM.

Features include:

• Lowest emissions possible below the most stringent environmental regulations.
• Control of emissions in oxidizer, eliminating the need for post-exhaust treatment systems, chemicals and catalysts.
• Significantly reduced emissions output allows simplified permitting process as a “minor” source

Low Calorific and Waste Gas Stream

If you have a low calorific gas that cannot be used in a standard gas turbine or reciprocating engine, or have a difficult waste gas stream, then the KG2 with Power Oxidizer is the best available option.  This system can operate on virtually any waste gas stream eliminating the need for blending, the use of flares or other thermal oxidizer technologies, making power and heat energy with ultra-low emissions.

System features:

• Run fuels with gas energy levels as low as 50 Btu/scf
• Operate on a wide variety of fuels from 5% methane to 100% propane
• Is tolerant Hydrogen Sulfide and Siloxanes in most cases eliminating the need for pre-treatment.

Technical Data

KG2 PERFORMANCE DATA
	KG2-3G	KG2-3E	KG2 W/POWER OXIDIZER	KG2 EXTERNALLY FIRED
Power output	2MW	1.934MW	1.85MW	1.85MW
Fuel	Natural Gas	Gas, Liquid and Dual Fuels	Virtually any waste gas stream	NA
Frequency	50 or 60	50 or 60	50 or 60	50 or 60
Gross efficiency	26	18	25.5	25.5
Output Shaft Speed	1,500 / 1,800 rpm	1,500 / 1,800 rpm	1,500 / 1,800 rpm	1,500 / 1,800 rpm
Pressure ratio	7:1	4:1	7:1	7:1
Exhaust mass flow	9.5 kg / sec	15 kg / sec	9.5 kg / sec	9.5 kg / sec
NOx emissions	≤ 24 vppm at 15% O2 (with DLE)	Fuel Dependent	< 1 vppm at 15% O2	NA

Power and SFC vs Ambient Temperature Graph:

Dimension:

GE and Caithness Energy Business Deal

General Electric Co. is nearing a deal with Caithness Energy with a potential value of more than $1 billion to supply equipment for multiple power plants in the U.S.

GE would provide as many as six of its new H-class gas turbines, along with steam turbines and other equipment, the companies announced Wednesday. The pact, covering plants to be developed in 2017 and 2018, is expected to become final by the end of this month.

A deal would be a boon for GE as Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Immelt reorients it around industries such as energy, aviation and oil. The Boston-based company shed most of its finance and consumer operations while bulking up equipment manufacturing through agreements including the $10 billion acquisition of Alstom SA’s power division.

The so-called HA turbine, a Winnebago-sized unit that is the company’s most efficient, is crucial to GE Power as global population growth drives demand for electricity. GE committed $2 billion to develop the product and help maintain its position as the world’s leading supplier of gas turbines. The manufacturer accounted for about 39 percent of the world market in 2016, followed by competitors Siemens AG and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Ltd., according to data from McCoy Power Reports.

GE has received orders for 58 HA turbines, not including the six under consideration in the Caithness deal.

Top Customer

Under the agreement being discussed, GE would provide equipment generating as much as 3 gigawatts of electricity, or enough to power about 2.5 million U.S. homes. Orders for the turbines and associated service agreements are expected to be recorded by GE in the next 24 months.

Caithness is poised to become the top customer for the HA turbine, following a 2015 agreement to buy two units for a Pennsylvania plant. That facility, known as Caithness Moxie Freedom, is under development and will go online next year.

Separately, GE signed a pair of agreements with Gas Natural Fenosa valued at $130 million to service equipment in Mexico, including gas turbines manufactured by Siemens and Mitsubishi Hitachi. GE gained the ability to maintain and repair competitors’ products through the Alstom acquisition.

Leaders of GE’s power and renewable-energy businesses are meeting with investors Wednesday in New York to detail the operations.

GE Engineered Equipment Package (EEP) at Pennsylvania CC Power Plant

GE announced an order for a single shaft engineered equipment package (EEP), with a high-efficiency 7HA.02 gas turbine at its heart, to power the Ares EIF’s Birdsboro Power combined-cycle power plant in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, USA.

With the help of GE’s latest power generation technology and financing from GE Capital, Birdsboro Power is expected to produce 488 MW upon commercial operation in 2019.

“We are pleased to bring this new plant online, which will help continue the shift to cleaner, more cost-effective power in the PJM region,” said Mark Voccola, a partner in Ares EIF, within the Ares Private Equity Group. “The abundance of low-cost natural gas in Pennsylvania means GE’s large, high-efficiency 7HA.02 technology is a great fit, supporting the region’s increased use of natural gas for power generation.”

The 7HA.02 incorporates a 14-stage advanced compressor with 3D aerodynamic foils with superfinish, three stages of variable stator vanes and field-replaceable blades.

“As the largest digital-industrial company, GE is uniquely positioned to bring a complete package of cutting-edge products and solutions to our customers,” said Joe Mastrangelo, president & CEO, GE Gas Power Systems.  “We’re able to provide critical financing to complete this project and deliver the world’s most efficient combined-cycle technology so that Birdsboro can provide more reliable, flexible and efficient power for the people of Pennsylvania.”

In addition to the equipment order, GE, through GE Capital’s Energy Financial Services, co-lead arranged senior secured credit facilities with CIT Bank and Investec, which will be used to support construction and operations of the plant.

The Birdsboro Power project was developed by EmberClear Corp., and the order includes one 7HA.02 gas turbine, one D650 steam turbine, one heat recovery steam generator (HRSG), plant controls and additional equipment. The gas turbine will be manufactured in Greenville, South Carolina, USA, and the steam turbine in Schenectady, New York. The turbines will operate in single-shaft combined-cycle configurations, providing the flexibility required to add highly-efficient, reliable power to the grid as needed.

This project marks GE’s 21st HA unit booked in the U.S. The HA is GE’s largest and most efficient gas turbine. GE’s Power Services has also signed a multi-year services agreement for continued maintenance of the facility’s power generation equipment.

GE 9HA

The 9HA high efficiency, air-cooled gas turbine is an industry leader among H-class offerings, and now the 9HA.01 is at the heart of the world's most efficient combined-cycle power plant. With two available models—the 9HA.01 at 429 MW and the 9HA.02 at 519 MW—customers can easily select the right capacity to meet their generation needs.

INDUSTRY-LEADING OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY

Features a fast 12-minute ramp-up from start command to full load, and up to 70 MW/minute ramping capability in a 1x1 configuration or 140 MW/minute in a 2x1 configuration.

LESS COMPLEX H-CLASS OFFERING

Showcases a simpler configuration than GE’s previous H-class fleet and doesn’t require a separate cooling air system.

VALIDATED AND PROVEN

The 9HA has undergone a full-speed, full-load validation test at our Greenville, SC facility in 2015 and exceeded engineering performance expectations.

9HA.01/.02 Gas Turbine

The world's largest and most efficient heavy-duty gas turbine.

Thanks to a simplified air-cooled architecture, advanced materials, and proven operability and reliability, GE's 9HA units deliver exceptionally low life cycle cost per megawatt. The economies of scale created by this high power density gas turbine, combined with its more than 62 percent combined-cycle efficiency, enables the most cost-effective conversion of fuel to electricity to help operators meet increasingly dynamic power demands.

Streamlined maintenance with quick-removal turbine roof, field-replaceable blades, and 100 percent borescope inspection coverage for all blades4-stage turbine with 3D aerodynamic hot gas path, cooling and sealing improvements, single-crystal and directionally solidified blades, and double-wall casing for improved clearance control14-stage advanced compressor with 3D aerodynamic airfoils with superfinish, 3 stages of variable stator vanes, and field-replaceable bladesDLN 2.6+ combustor with axial fuel staging is proven through 45,000 starts and >2 million hoursCombustor enables improved turndown and greater fuel flexibilityReduces need for on-site gas compression; fuel pressure requirements as low as 435 psi/30 barReaches turndown as low as 30 percent of gas turbine baseload output within emissions complianceFuel flexible to accommodate gas and liquid fuels with wide gas variability, including high ethane (shale) gas and liquefied natural gas

FORMER NAMES:
Frame 9H, 9F 7-Series, 9F-7, 9FB.05, FE50

Explore the HA's Modular Gas Turbine Enclosure

GE’s HA gas turbine auxiliary systems are pre-configured, factory assembled and tested modules engineered to reduce field connections, piping, and valves. This translates to a simpler installation that reduces field schedule and installation quality risks while improving overall installation times—up to 25% quicker compared to GE F-class gas turbine enclosures.

Completion of Fast Track Power Project 4.8 GW in Egypt by Siemens

Siemens announced that it achieved a new world record for the execution of fast-track power projects in Egypt by connecting 4.8 gigawatts to the national grid, according to a statement on Thursday. 

The German company set a goal 18 months ago to bring 4.4 GW to the national grid, a target that has been exceeded by 400 MW, the statement said, pointing out that the surplus of 400 MW could cover the electricity requirements for one million people. 

Siemens, in cooperation with Orascom Construction and Elsewedy Electric, succeeded in boosting Egypt's power generation capacity by 45 percent in 18 months, the statement read.

"We made a promise to Egypt and we kept our word. And by doing so, we not only overachieved in performance, we also broke all records in modern turnkey power plant construction. This was only possible by an outstanding collaboration between the government, the Ministry of Electricity, the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company and a dedicated and competent Siemens team," said Joe Kaeser, President and CEO of Siemens AG.

The company targets finalizing three power stations in May 2018 that would comprise the "largest gas-fired, combined cycle power plants ever built and operated in the world."

The CEO for Siemens Egypt, Emad Ghaly, said the three power plants will provide electricity to 45 milion people and will allow Egypt to save up to US$1.3 billion a year. 

GE wins first of its kind contract of oOEM services

Powering the Middle East! GE wins first of its kind contract servicing a generator manufactured by another Original Equipment Manufacturer (oOEM) highlighting GE’s expanded capabilities to service oOEM products.

One of the most exciting aspects of GE’s acquisition of Alstom’s energy portfolio in November 2015 was how it would potentially enhance the company’s range of total plant solutions, cross fleet capabilities and regional presence. This includes the ability to service non-GE equipment within the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region.

One such example is the recent execution by GE’s Power Services business of an agreement with Suez-Tractabel Operation & Maintenance Oman LLC (STOMO) for stator rewinding services, high speed balancing of the rotor, as well as digital solutions for an Ansaldo generator at the Barka II Power and Desalination Plant.

Located about 50 kilometers away from Muscat, Barka II can deliver up to 120,000 cubic meters per day of potable water, as well as 678 megawatts (MW) of electrical power to the Sultanate of Oman. The contract was the first of its kind for Power Services to be executed in the Middle East region.

The generator stator rewinding is expected to extend the asset’s life for approximately 20 years and was conducted on site. GE also leveraged its regional strengths by undertaking inspection services and high speed balancing for the rotor at the Global Repair Solutions Jebel Ali Generator Service Center in Dubai.

Further enhancing the maintenance, GE also provided a generator health monitoring suite, which allows for improved asset management.

“GE’s deep understanding of the industry, technological capabilities and advanced suite of digital industrial solutions positioned them as a trusted partner of choice,” said Jurgen De Vyt, Chief Executive Officer, SMN Power Holding Company. “The services were delivered as per internationally recognized standards through proactive, on-the-ground support by GE’s highly qualified team of engineers, helping us increase our competitiveness.”

GE’s Global Repair Solutions Jebel Ali Generator Service Center in Dubai is the only facility in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan region to provide high-speed balancing services. This allows any type of rotor repairs and field rewinds requiring high-speed testing, thereby reducing the risk of failure during onsite commissioning and improving the availability and reliability of the power plant.

With one of the largest services portfolios in the industry and expanded total plant solutions capabilities, GE’s Power Services now can support more than 90 OEM brands across all major plant assets and service any type of generator (30+ OEM brands).

GE is a key partner in supporting the Sultanate of Oman’s energy production and has had an active presence in the country since 1975. GE has an office in Muscat and an Electric Submersible Pumps (ESP) Field Service & Repair Center in Nimr. More than 80 turbines installed by GE support the generation of over 8 gigawatts of power in Oman, serving nearly half the country’s production.