Gas Turbine Efficiency Earns Industry Recognition in Energy Services Leadership
GTEs non-OEM solution provides measurable benefit for power plant operators
ORLANDO, Florida Gas Turbine Efficiency plc (AIM: GTE), a leader in energy and aviation products and services, has been featured in Combined Cycle Journal 3Q/2009, which highlights its ECOMAX(TM) gas turbine optimization system, a solution currently in place at Entegra Power Groups Gila River Power Station in Gila Bend, AZ.
GTEs innovative ECOMAX system has effectively provided Entegra with a suite of solutions to control emissions, manage dynamics and provide increased output without exceeding OEM design limits. With OEM operational enhancements at a premium, Entegra sought GTEs expertise to enhance the performance of its gas turbines. Other power producers have too, as there have been many installations of the system in addition to the Entegra site.
GTEs ECOMAX product line offers a fully automated solution that can optimize gas turbine combustion system performance in near real-time. As an automated tuning system, ECOMAX can increase power potential and maintain operational flexibility while remaining compliant in emissions regulations.
By installing ECOMAX, gas turbine operators select predefined parameters that allow for greater flexibility in matching turbine performance with operational goals. If the market price of power spikes, an operator could change his or her goal to maximize output from low heat rate, and when the market price of power declines, the high-efficiency goal to conserve fuel can be reestablished.
ECOMAX allows plant operators to set an operational objective for a given time or set of circumstances, said Tom Wagner, Chief Technology Officer at GTE. Hence the operator maintains complete discretion for quickly switching turbine settings if another objective is required.
Power plants using ECOMAX have shown an increase in power output, efficiency gains and emissions reduction. Gas turbines equipped with the ECOMAX system can avoid seasonal tuning by providing near real time tuning -- a clear advantage for power plant operators.
ECOMAX sites are also supported by GTEs proprietary Monitoring and Diagnostics (M&D) center, which provides the power plant operator with a proactive method of monitoring their major equipment. It offers a supplemental service to further enhance plant operation leveraging the expertise to address operational issues. Since the implementation of the M&D center in 2009, customers have avoided unit trips or service interruption and improved efficiency through plant configuration management. This has increased the effectiveness of plant maneuvers and tests- all of which has improved revenue for the client. In addition, it provides real-time monitoring and notification services for identification of emerging issues.
Representatives from GTE will be presenting its ECOMAX solution in more detail at the upcoming 7F Users Group 2010 Annual Conference in Atlanta on May 12-15, 2010.
The entire ECOMAX article from Combined Cycle Journal is available online at combinedcyclejournal.com. You can also find recommendations for additional software add-ons to enhance turbine operation, including firing curve adjustments to OEM preset limits, turndown, peak fire, and startup emissions optimization at gtefficiency.com/pdf/ECOMAX_Tru-Curve%20102809.pdf.
About GTE
Gas Turbine Efficiency designs, manufactures and supplies proprietary cleantech energy saving and performance enhancing solutions to the power generation, oil and gas, and aviation industries. The companys extensive portfolio of patented cleantech solutions save fuel, reduce emissions, increase availability, and extend turbine and parts life. The Group also provides solutions for burning a wider variety and quality of fuels such as liquefied natural gas, clean coal and alternative fuel blends. Products and services developed by our world-class technology team include compressor cleaning and power augmentation systems; fuels management systems; combustion design, repair, upgrade and monitoring; and fluid and control auxiliaries.
For more information about Gas Turbine Efficiency plc and its products and services, please visit www.gtefficiency.com.
For more information:
Megan Thomas
Director of Communications
Gas Turbine Efficiency
media@gtefficiency.com
Phone: 407.304.5236
