GE Energy Announces New OpFlex(TM) Extended Turndown for 9FA+e Gas Turbines
OpFlex Extended Turndown is Latest Addition to GE's Operational Flexibility Portfolio
MILAN, ITALY - June 4, 2008 : - Citing the need in the power industry for additional operational flexibility, GE Energy today introduced OpFlex(TM) Extended Turndown, which enables customers to operate their 9FA+e gas turbines with additional turndown without jeopardizing performance, reliability or emissions.
OpFlex Extended Turndown extends the reduced-emissions operating range to lower load levels by increasing gas turbine turndown capability. Currently, the typical turndown minimum for the 9FA+e gas turbine equipped with the DLN 2.6+ combustion system is 40 percent load at ISO conditions. OpFlex Extended Turndown is targeted to provide a minimum of 5 percent additional turndown. By reducing the turndown to 35 percent load, customers are able to reduce the amount of fuel consumed during off-peak hours and avoid shut-down and start-up costs, as well as minimize maintenance requirements associated with shut-downs.
OpFlex Extended Turndown builds upon decades of GE expertise and experience in the area of combustion technology. This software solution optimizes the combustion process and enables power generators to reduce fuel costs significantly. CO2 emissions associated with low -load operation are also reduced, while maintaining low NOx and CO emission levels.
"OpFlex Extended Turndown is an exciting new development that will provide our customers with additional flexibility to meet the challenges of maximizing operational revenues while minimizing operational costs," said Dan Heintzelman, president of GE Energy's services business.
This enhancement is the latest addition to the OpFlex product line, which offers a range of solutions to improve operational flexibility of 7FA+e and 9FA+e gas turbines.
About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.
Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pres sing environmental challenges. GE's Jenbacher biogas, landfill gas and coal mine methane engines have received ecomagination certification, underscoring the environmental and economic benefits offered from the utilization of generating energy from high methane content waste streams.
About GE Energy Europe
With more than 9,000 employees in Europe, GE has plants in France, Germany, Austria, Spain and Hungary. The European headquarters of GE Energy Europe are based in Belfort employing more than 1,800 employees. A center of excellence in its area, Belfort is the only producer of heavy duty gas turbines in France. The sites in Salzbergen, Germany and Noblejas, Spain are centers of excellence for new generation wind turbines, while one of the four GE Global Research Centers is based in Germany, near Munich. The Jenbacher plant in Austria is a leading manufacturer of gas-fueled reciprocating engines, packaged generator sets and cogeneration systems for power generation. In addition, there are several plants in numerous European countries producing spare elements and services, including Hungary, Italy and Great Britain. GE Energy Europe owns a University in Florence, Italy, training employees and one engineering center in Warsaw, Poland and also in Moscow, Russia.
About GE
GE is Imagination at Work-diversified technology, media and financial services company focused on solving some of the world's toughest problems. With products and services ranging from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing and security technology to medical imaging, business and consumer financing and media content, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.
For more information, contact:
Catherine Edenborough
GE Energy
+44 1420 595 872
catherine.edenborough@ge.com
