General Electric has announced the launch of a new 16.5 megawatt (MW) gas turbine (NovaLT16) for mechanical drive and power generation applications in the oil and gas industry. Developed by GE Oil & Gas , NovaLT16 combines technology from proven GE turbines with industry insights from TransCanada Corporation, a major North American energy infrastructure company. Today’s oil and gas operators need to transport gas from more remote locations, in harsh environments and under more stringent regulations. These challenges increase demand for efficiency, emissions reduction and maintainability of the critical equipment. The 16.5 MW NovaLT16 gas turbine will provide up to 37 percent mechanical efficiency, which raises the standards for efficient and reliable pipeline compression, power generation and oil and gas plant compression applications.
“We strive to remain an innovator and to continue testing new technology that could result in cost savings and emission reductions within our facilities,” said David Montemurro, Vice President, Facilities and Pipeline Projects, TransCanada. “We’re pleased to have signed the MOU to highlight our commitment towards the development of a more energy efficient gas turbine.”
“This collaboration with TransCanada has enabled us to develop a winning alternative for the oil and gas industry in North America,” said Rafael Santana, CEO and President of Turbomachinery Solutions, GE Oil & Gas. “Together, we will develop a solution specifically tailored to meet market challenges around increasing efficiency, reducing waste emissions and increasing reliability.”
Key features and benefits of NovaLT16
- NovaLT16 features operational flexibility over a wide load range. High efficiency and reduced emissions are achieved from 20 percent to 100 percent of the load, thereby making it easier to meet operating conditions not foreseen at the project stage. Seasonal combustion mapping is not required thanks to the synergic design of the fuel system, the engine control and the combustion system.
- NovaLT16 is rated for 35,000 hours Mean Time Between Maintenance (MTBM) and up to 99 percent availability, which is setting new standards for GE’s turbines in the 10-20MW power range. Modular construction, easy access to auxiliary systems and wide lateral openings of the gas turbine’s enclosure make maintenance and support more straightforward. A unit can be swapped in just 24 hours, reducing the amount of lost operating time to just one day.
- The gas turbine has built-in provisions for remote monitoring and diagnostics through GE’s Industrial Internet technology, with diagnostic software PredictivityTM Solutions, integrated data gathering and data transfer within its control panel. This enables any problems to be anticipated and pre-emptively addressed, reducing operating costs and the need for on-site visits for maintenance.
Development and testing of the NovaLT16 engine began in 2013. Completed units, including all auxiliaries systems and controls, are planned for release to the market in early 2016.
Key technical features of NovaLT16
- 16.5 MW shaft power.
- 2-stage HP turbine features Single Crystal buckets to provide best-available metallurgy for higher efficiency and extended durability.
- 2-stage LP turbine with variable geometry first-stage nozzle maintains high efficiency and lower emissions over wide operating range.
- Single annular combustor—25 ppm of NOx emissions.
- Ruggedized DLN single annular combustor and 360° combustion casing delivers a compact and flexible design with reduced emissions.
- Three variable geometry stages (IGV, S1 and S2) for wide speed range and surge robustness.
- 35,000 hours MTBM—corresponds to four years of continuous operation without the need for maintenance stops.