Siemens Does First Large Gas Turbine Exchange In U.S.

Siemens Gas and Power recently completed its first large gas turbine section exchange in the U.S. as part of the company’s Brownfield Engine Exchange (BEX) program.

The project involved replacing the gas turbine section (V84.2) at PowerSouth’s McWilliams power plant in Covington County, Alabama, USA, with a newer, more efficient SGT6-2000E section that is providing numerous benefits, the company said. Replacing the section was a more cost-effective alternative to simply continuing to replace parts and provide maintenance upgrades at regularly scheduled intervals, the company said. The McWilliams plant is now equipped with Siemens’ innovative Si3D blades, which are characterized by an aerodynamic design with optimal efficiency.

After the exchange project, the McWilliams plant is now producing 114 MW of cleaner energy, up from an average of 102 MW previously, due principally to improvements in gross simple cycle efficiency from approximately 31% to approximately 35%, Siemens said. In addition, NO_x emissions have decreased from 13-16 parts per million (ppm @ 15 percent O ₂) to 10 ppm.

“This is a terrific example of how ingenuity, technical expertise and a commitment to making energy cleaner come together to provide measurable benefits to customers and consumers alike,” said Vinod Philip, CEO Service Power Generation at Siemens Gas and Power. “As the world pays closer attention to how energy is produced and consumed, it is incumbent upon companies like Siemens to help our customers address these concerns with innovative, cleaner energy solutions such as the Brownfield Engine Exchange program.”

Siemens said there is a need worldwide for BEX programs, since energy efficiency is essential in reaching climate goals. For many turbines in operation, BEX offers a cost-effective and fast solution to traditional maintenance and can increase efficiency and cut greenhouse gas emissions at the same time, the company said.