GE Launches New Flagship NovaLT16 Gas Turbine and Signs MOU with TransCanada for Further Development

GE 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 to meet the industry's evolving challenges, NovaLT16 combines the best technology from industry-proven GE turbines and benefits from the industry insights of TransCanada Corporation, a major North American energy infrastructure company.

As a result of a GE-TransCanada Corporation collaboration on the pipeline configuration of the unit, the two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to progress development of NovaLT16 gas turbine including technical evaluation, gas station layout optimization and negotiation of the terms and conditions for purchase.

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 of efficient and reliable pipeline compressions, power generation and oil and gas plant compression applications, thereby helping to meet increasing energy demand across the world.

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 Predictivity 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—now guaranteeing 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.

Keywords: Gas Turbine, Oil and Gas, Pipeline Compression, Power Generation, Combustion Mapping, ARC Advisory Group.