Ten years after launching the ambitious
innovation program for a new
generation of its H- class gas turbine,
Siemens, according to a company
statement, has now achieved a new world
record in power plant efficiency with the
SGT5-8000H gas turbine at the Irsching 4
plant. With an output of more than 578 mw
and an efficiency level of 60.75 per cent
(net), Siemens has markedly surpassed the
targeted efficiency mark of "more than 60
per cent" during the test phase, making
history in the field of power plant
technology. The new Siemens gas turbine is
designed for 400 mw in simple cycle duty
and for 600 mw in combined cycle duty.
The new H-class plant can quickly react to the
demands for additional or reduced output.
Siemens tested a number of corresponding
load gradients for this. As an example, more
than 500 mw can be put online in the space of
only 30 minutes and stable load gradients of
35 mw/minute can be run.
More than 750 Siemens employees, including
250 engineers, were involved in development
of the new gas turbine and the new combined
cycle plant. Siemens invested more than
€500 million in turbine development and in
the construction and operation of a prototype
plant in Irsching, Bavaria. For one and a half
years Siemens put the gas turbine through its
paces there. As of mid-2009, following
successful trial operation the gas turbine plant
was extended to form a combined cycle
facility by adding a bottoming steam cycle
featuring an innovative Siemens heatrecovery
steam generator and a Siemens
high-temperature steam turbine operating at
600°C to create the most efficient combined
cycle plant in the world. Upon completion of
the trial operation phase that is now underway,
E.ON will take over commercial operation of
Irsching 4 this year.
In addition to the combined cycle plant in
Irsching 4, Siemens has already sold six of
the new gas turbines as 60Hz versions to a
utility in Florida. The first machines for this
order are already in production and will be
dispatched to the customer in 2012.
Siemens also received an order from South
Korea to build a further turnkey single-shaft
combined cycle power plant featuring the
60Hz version the new gas turbine. This plant
is scheduled to go online in 2013.