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 (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 GE’s 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 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, GE’s 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 GE Energy EPC Associates Magazine

What’s 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...