STAG Application Flexibility

Strong Performance in Many Applications

GE combined cycle systems perform well in a variety of applications including:

Cogeneration

Dual-use power and heat cogeneration plants provide the highest energy conversion efficiency available today. To achieve this, the plants serve two energy users, typically a host process heat user and an electric utility. This dual-customer arrangement can create economies of scale, allowing for increased return on investment.

Repowering

Repowering is the addition of new gas turbines to existing steam turbine cycles to form combined cycle systems. The most commonly applied system is the heat recovery type of repowering system that includes gas turbines and HRSGs, which generate steam for existing steam turbines.

IGCC

Heat recovery type steam and gas turbine combined systems are the economic choice for gas or oil-fired power generation. Integration with gasification systems extends their economic application to low-cost solid fuel utilization. Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) relies on two-stage combustion with cleanup between the stages. Applied with F technology gas turbines, IGCC technology delivers over 42 percent efficiency with 265 MW in 60 Hz applications, and 380 MW in 50 Hz applications.

Diverse Fuel Capabilities

Base-case STAG product line performance is based on natural gas fuel. However, optional distillate oil capability can be provided for all gas turbines in the GE product line. A number of GE E-class technology gas turbines have extensive operating experience burning residual oil and other heavy fuels. However, F and H technology units cannot burn residual oil due to their higher firing temperatures.

In the fuel arena, the STAG combined cycle product line includes two options:

  • Pre-engineered oil or natural gas-fired systems for electric power generation
  • Pre-engineered building blocks for combined cycle cogeneration systems and coal or oil fired IGCC power generation systems

Cyclic Operation

STAG units provide high thermal efficiency, high reliability and availability and economic power generation for both baseload and cyclic duty power generation. Fast starting and loading is characteristic of STAG combined cycle generation systems, enabling them to operate in mid-range, daily start peaking service and baseload. STAG systems can typically achieve full load within one hour during a hot start and within about three hours during a cold start.

Part load performance of STAG combined cycle power plants depend not only on individual block characteristics, but also on operation of the power plant. Multiple single-shaft STAG systems provide the greatest flexibility, since each block may be started or stopped to follow load demand and minimize heat rate.

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