Benefits for Australia
Within GE's portfolio, our aeroderivative gas turbines provide the highest degree of flexibility, and also the most competitive installed cost for peaking market applications. The LM2500XPRESS and TM2500 gas turbine solutions have been specifically engineered for peaking applications.
The criteria for peaking plant applications results in the modularized LM2500 Dry Low Emissions (DLE) gas turbine as the primary and most competitive solution on a $/kW installed basis. The LM2500 has two standardized solutions, a trailer mounted configuration (TM2500), and a land-based configuration, both of which are highly modularised, allowing short installation and commissioning schedules within approximately 3-4 months from Notice to Proceed to completion.
For applications in which mobility is not a priority, the LM2500XPRESS solution is a great fit. The LM2500XPRESS maintains the modularized configuration philosophy that is applied on the TM2500 without the trailer base frame, meaning it's engineered for more permanent installations.
The LM2500XPRESS has industry leading availability and reliability on a per unit basis (fleet average reliability 99.8% and average availability 98.5%), very important criteria for a peaking plant.
Take a tour of the LM2500XPRESS
The LM2500XPRESS package is also rated at plant net 32.5MW at ISO at an efficiency of 37.7% LHV and also is delivered equipped with the gas turbine engine, auxiliary support systems, generator, generator circuit breaker, and control house on prefabricated, pre-wired skids. These skids can be deployed, installed, and commissioned within 4 weeks of equipment delivery (assuming that the site is prepared and ready for installation).
The TM2500, rated at plant net 32.5 MW at ISO at an efficiency of 37.7% LHV, provides the best value for applications in which temporary power is required, but also provides the added advantage of being mobile, so it's easy to relocate to other site locations with minimal demobilization requirements.
The TM2500 is delivered with the gas turbine enclosure, air filter, auxiliary support systems, generator, generator circuit breaker, control house containing the motor control centre and generator control panels, and also the exhaust system mounted on actual trailers that are road worthy and easily transportable. This allows the TM2500 to maintain residual value at the end of a particular plant term or short leasing period.
TM2500 aeroderivative gas turbine package
Based on the modularized configuration, both the TM2500 and LM2500 gas turbine packages are prewired, prefabricated, and pre-commissioned as much as possible in the factory to reduce the amount of site installation works. This includes flushing of lubrication oil systems, point to point wiring tests, and also engine pre-alignment procedures. This reduces schedule risk and site material costs, which are traditionally the main two drivers leading to project delays. The risk of configuration interface errors is also greatly reduced, as most systems are already pre-engineered and pre-connected and commissioned prior to the gas turbine package being delivered to site. The gas turbine packages are also delivered with receptacle wiring interconnectors between the main pre-fabricated trailers and skids, to allow for quick plug and play interconnections. Access ways and ladders and platforms can also be pre-engineered and delivered specifically for critical access points of the gas turbine package.
Engine changeouts can be conducted within a 72 hour window by having a spare engine available on site, or via an engine lease subscription with GE in which provides a customer access to lease engines within the GE Services fleet. This enables a gas turbine to be replaced within an extremely short time frame, which allows high plant availability levels to be maintained.
See how the TM2500 gives you power in hours
Both the LM2500XPRESS and TM2500 gas turbines are capable of starting from cold iron, to full load within 5 minutes. The GE aeroderivative gas turbine range is capable of fast starts without any standby auxiliary load requirements. This is mainly due to the inherent characteristic of a LM2500 gas turbine which is a derivative of an aircraft engine, engineered for high cycling, and immediate high thrust applications.
Figure 8 – 5 minute start profile of a GE LM2500 gas turbine
The LM2500XPRESS and TM2500 gas turbine packages have multiple fuel capability on both Dry Low Emissions (DLE) and Single Annular Combustor (SAC) options. The SAC option can handle a higher variety of fuels including Coke Oven Gas, LPG (100% propane or 100% Butane) and a variety of low BTU fuels. The DLE combustor can handle both gas and distillate fuels while meeting World Bank Guideline emissions limits without any water injection required.
LM2500XPRESS Gas Turbine
The LM2500 gas turbine has two combustor options, a Wet Low Emissions and a Dry Low Emissions. Both options comply with 25 ppm NOx @ 15% O2, and 25 ppm CO @ 15% O2 requirements. The LM2500 DLE combustor also has the option of meeting 15 ppm NOx @ 15% O2 emissions levels. In Australian, a drive towards lower emissions has been a key energy initiative. Having the ability to meet lower, best in class emissions levels is an added advantage in future proofing a power plant in which emissions criteria may change within the 10-15 year timeframe.
There are currently more than 2,460 units of the LM2500 gas turbine family that have been shipped with a total of more than 92 million operation hours. The LM2500, and more generally the GE aeroderivative gas turbine fleet, has achieved its high reliability and availability levels based on its stringent preventative maintenance regime and also engine lease program. This allows for engines to be replaced as quickly as within a 72 hour window, allowing continued operation whilst the customers engine is being repaired or upgraded during planned outages.
See where the TM2500 has made its global mark
The LM2500XPRESS and TM2500 solutions are capable of operating down to minimum load (down to 10%) without restriction on load profiles as a consequence. Compared to alternative technologies such as reciprocating engines, in which restrictions would apply when operating below particular load setpoints, after which higher load operation is required to avoid slobbering effects, the LM2500XPRESS and TM2500 gas turbines are able to be parked at any load setpoint without suffering from any such consequences.