GE unveils solution platforms to boost gas turbine assets

Here's how FlexEfficiency, LifeMax tap into a 3-way collaboration.

Two new GE solutions platforms are applying the collective power of hardware innovations, advanced software and data analytics in ways that enable GE customers to unleash the full performance and value of their existing gas turbine assets.

GE’s FlexEfficiency* Advantage (FEA) and LifeMax* Advantage (LMA) portfolios deliver technologies blended through a collaborative process between GE and its customers to identify the solutions that best help them achieve their desired outcomes, which include flexibility, efficiency and reliability. GE announced the new portfolios today at the 2013 POWER-GEN Asia Conference & Exhibition.

“Through our FEA and LMA platforms we’re really tapping into a three-way collaboration between our customers, machines around the world and our dedicated team at work,” said Fintan Tuffy, general manager of Fleet Analytics & Performance Management for GE’s Power Generation Services business.

“This powerful combination of experience and information can lead our energy industry into a new era of efficiency, cost savings, environmental responsibility and smarter decision-making. The solutions we continue to introduce to our customers are demonstrating how information really can be transformed into tremendous power.”

FEA solutions for GE F-Class gas turbine customers are configured to expand performance parameters, including output, efficiency and operating windows. GE customers also can benefit from an extension of maintenance intervals, asset and parts life through more durable hardware components and software technology that automate operational adjustments to reduce stresses on parts.

GE’s Advanced Gas Path (AGP) solution exemplifies the FlexEfficiency Advantage in action. This upgrade blends advancements in hot gas path components with OpFlex* model-based control software to deliver industry-leading increases in megawatt (MW) output and fuel efficiency.

The FlexEfficiency Advantage platform also features solutions including GE’s Dry Low NOx (DLN) combustion technologies and a broader OpFlex Suite of solutions, both of which expand the operational flexibility of F-Class gas turbines.

GE customers benefitting from FEA solutions include Korea Southern Power Company, Ltd., South Korea; Chia Hui Power Station, Taiwan (R.O.C.); TransCanada, Canada; IBERDROLA, Mexico; and Duke Energy, United States.

LMA solutions help GE customers with installed B/E-Class gas turbines reset the clock on their aging assets with tailored upgrade packages. The installation of GE’s most advanced hardware and software offerings on this fleet of units, which averages more than 17 years in operation, can significantly extend their life cycle of operation.

GE customers also can realize improvements in output, efficiency and reliability with a suite of upgrade solutions that help B/E-Class gas turbines recapture lost performance. GE customers benefitting from LMA solutions include Thaioil Energy, Thailand; S.A. Industrias Celulosa Aragonesa, Spain; and Great River Energy, United States.

GE’s LMA platform features solutions including upgrades to B/E-Class AGP systems; DLN combustion technologies such as 32K, which allows operators to run their units up to 32,000 hours between scheduled maintenance intervals; and Flange-to-Flange replacements of core engine components.