- GE's Aviation Expertise Led to Breakthrough in Gas Turbine Technology
- Innovative F-Class Gas Turbines Achieve 1 Million Starts, Set Reliability Records
SCHENECTADY, N.Y.---November 22, 2013---GE (NYSE: GE) is celebrating the record-breaking results of translating aerodynamic engineering into a power generating innovation. By marrying its unique aviation expertise with its heavy-duty gas turbine experience, GE created the breakthrough F-class gas turbine technology. That GE technology, introduced in 1990, now represents the world's largest fleet of F-class power---more than all other manufacturers combined---providing 260 gigawatts (GW) of power in 58 countries.
GE's fleet of F-class gas turbines was the first to achieve:
- 50 million operating hours and 1 million starts.
- 99.4 percent yearly reliability.
- Single-digit NOx emissions.
The first F-class unit, a 7F machine, began operation in 1990, replacing a coal-fired steam turbine. Closing in on the 25th anniversary, this unit is still running today in the same combined-cycle configuration and has accumulated well over 100,000 hours of commercial operation.
Today, more than 1,100 GE F-class gas turbines are installed globally.
"More than 40 years of gas turbine experience from GE Power & Water, GE Aviation and GE Global Research went into the development of the F technology," said Vic Abate, president and CEO---Power Generation Products for GE Power & Water. "By taking state-of-the-art technology and materials from aviation and using them for power generation, GE made a quantum leap in technology."
That quantum leap included development of the world's first transonic blade for power generation and a game-changing turbine with a firing temperature of 2300° F. GE continues to improve and expand F-class capabilities for the future. GE's latest F-class technology enables greater use of natural gas, wind and solar, and has become an industry benchmark for reliable, efficient and flexible electricity production.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
About GE Power & Water
GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world's most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Power & Water's six business units include Distributed Power, Nuclear Energy, Power Generation Products, Power Generation Services, Renewable Energy and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE's largest industrial business.
Follow GE Power & Water on Twitter @GE_PowerWater.
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Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
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Gina DeRossi
Soteryx Corporation
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