GE Energy

New enhancements for

the 9FA Gas Turbine
Delivering higher performance and greater operational flexibility

GE Energys F-class gas

turbines set the standard.
GE was the first to:
introduce F-class technology to the
industry
r ecord 100% reliability for an F-class
turbine over an 108-day period of
continuous operation
r each 99.4% reliability on an F-class
turbine
r ecord 28 million fired hours on an
F-class turbine in worldwide service
s hip more than 1,000 F-class
turbines
r each 55% thermal efficiency in
F-class commercial combined cycle
operation
a
 chieve 40% load with single digit
NOx and CO on an F-class turbine
c onstruct an F-class turbine for an
IGCC application

9 FA N E W E N H A N C E M E N T S

Meeting customer needs

Customers are continually seeking ways to deliver greater

operational flexibility and higher levels of performance,
availability and reliability while minimizing operating costs
and meeting increasingly rigorous environmental criteria. By
accumulating data from the worlds largest F gas turbine fleet
and using our performance database from GEs monitoring
and diagnostic center, GE engineers are continually finding
new ways to provide enhanced performance and operational
flexibility for today and tomorrow.

9FA NE W ENHANCEMENTS

Advancing technology
offering additional customer value
Improved Performance
GE Energy has engineered a Cooling Optimization Package

technology leadership. With more than 28 million F-class

that is now available as a retrofit package for 9FA.03 models

hours of successful DLN operation and over fifteen million

and as an optional package on all new 9FAs. Providing

hours at or below 9 ppm NOx, GE has the experience

improved heat rate and output, this package maintains the

and technology leadership to help meet customer

9FAs unmatched levels of reliability and availability. Benefits

emission objectives. GEs DLN2.6+ Combustion System is

of the Cooling Optimization Package translate into lower

ecomagination certified and is enabled through GEs Mark*

operating costs and improved revenues for 9FA users in both

VIe control platform .

simple-cycle and combined-cycle operation.

The DLN 2.6+ Combustion System offers the following

The Cooling Optimization Package incorporates

customer benefits and features.

GEs advanced technology which is based on a keen

Lower gas turbine emissions capable of 20 mg/Nm3 for

understanding of the physics of the entire 9FA gas turbine

cooling system. GE engineers from around the world focused
on the turbines operational environment, which includes
ambient conditions, load ranges and start sequencing, to
develop this new package. The package offers customers
improved output and efficiency by more effectively managing
the temperature and volume of cooling airflow, minimizing

both NOx (@ 15% O2) and CO

Improved turndown capability down to 35% of full load
lowers fuel costs and reduces cycling requirements
during off-peak hours, resulting in fewer starts and faster
dispatch capability units remain online and full load
capacity can be reached more quickly

pressure drops and diminishing the effect of turbine

Enhanced fuel flexibility for varying fuel compositions

clearances.

Increased revenue potential from developing NOx credit

trading markets

Cooling Optimization Package

Improved system availability through 24,000 hour extended

CC Heat rate reduction

up to 0.5%

CC Output

up to +0.7%

SC Heat rate reduction

up to 1.1%

The DLN 2.6+ Combustion System can be installed at a

SC Output

up to +1.2%

combustion, hot gas path or major inspection. Continuous

With no additional impact on the life of the parts

Reduced Emissions

combustion inspection interval

dynamics monitoring and remote DLN tuning are available

as an additional package benefit/feature. This system is also
available as an option on new units.

Economic and regulatory requirements are placing greater

Increased Operational Flexibility

pressure on the operation of gas turbines. Higher fuel prices

Power generation industry changes are driving the need

are driving a greater cyclic operation and increasing emission

for more operational flexibility. Varying business model

requirements are pressuring the amount of time a turbine

operational profiles are transitioning from traditional

may operate.

baseload operation to mid/cyclic-operation, with nearly 50%

Since its first installation in 2006 the DLN 2.6+ Combustion

of operating hours <100% load.

System from GE Energy has provided customers increased

The OpFlex* suite of offerings, enabled by GEs Mark VIe

operational flexibility at a reduced cost of operation. This

control platform, provides an array of products to improve

enhanced system builds upon decades of GE combustion

plant operating performance and flexibility.

*Mark and OpFlex are registered trademarks of the General Electric Company.

4 9 FA N E W E N H A N C E M E N T S

OpFlex Extended Turndown

OpFlex AutoTune

providing low emission operational flexibility

real-time tuning and boundary control for greater flexibility

The OpFlex Extended Turndown Package extends the

As fuel availability and variability becomes more

operating range at which emissions levels can be maintained

commonplace, customers will look to more flexible solutions.

at lower load levels by increasing gas turbine turndown

capability. By reducing the minimum turndown level,
operators are able to reduce the amount of fuel consumed
during off-peak hours and avoid shutdown/start-up costs.
The package also minimizes maintenance requirements
associated with shutdowns and allows the customer to
respond to short demands for electricity.

OpFlex Auto Tune, GEs latest operational flexibility

enhancement, minimizes the need for seasonal combustor
tuning in order to maintain emissions compliance. OpFlex
AutoTune will provide customers with the ability to operate
their units within their current fuel specification without the
need for manual combustor retuning. This enhancement
uses the next-generation of GEs Model Based Control. The
new Control System provides more stabilized combustion

Benefits
Reduced fuel consumption to remain on-line during offpeak hours due to lower turndown level

characteristics so customers can capitalize on a wide range

of ambient conditions and fuel variations without any system
instabilities, maintenance impacts or increase in emissions.

Increased revenue resulting from improved dispatch

priority by staying online and eliminating startups and

This enhancement provides the following key benefits.

shutdowns

Eliminates combustion retuning due to changes in ambient

Lower greenhouse gas emissions due to reduced fuel

consumption

conditions and fuel variation

Enables continuous reliable operation of the unit with up to
+/-7.5% variation in modified Wobbe index

Increased potential of spinning reserve credits

Minimized maintenance associated with cyclic operation

Removes unplanned tuning, combustion dynamic and noncompliance NOx and CO events

9FA

Baseload

9FB

Baseload

Increases reliability through improved dynamics stability

and fuel market leverage
Reduces fuel costs by eliminating manual tuning
Enhances turbine performance by maintaining firing
temperature target

20 mg/Nm3

30 mg/Nm3
to
50 mg/Nm3

Improves confidence that turbine operation can be

maintained within emission limits
Increases fuel supply flexibility leading to lower negotiated
fuel prices

50%
GT Load
30 mg/Nm3

OpFlex*
Extended
Turndown

Applicability
OpFlex AutoTune is for GE 9FA gas turbines with DLN2.6+

40%
GT Load
35%
GT Load

combustors, Mark Ve or VI Control Systems with Combustion

38%
GT Load

Dynamics Monitoring Systems.

9FA NE W ENHANCEMENTS 5

9FA Applications
Powering more than the grid
GE Energys wide range of flexible power generation

9FA fleet 200+ units sold, 170+ in

operation in more than 25 countries

applications for the 9FA gas turbine include combined-cycle,

cogeneration and simple-cycle peaking in both cyclic and
baseload operation using a wide range of fuels.

Data as of April 2009

IWPP water desalination

Aluminum energy for smelters
Refineries use of process gas and flare gas
for O&G upstream
District Heating use of CHP (combined heat & power)
Steel use of blast gas or Corex gas

More than 7 million fired hours and

74,000 fleet starts

Pulp and Paper manufacturing process

Data as of April 2009

System reliability
and availability
leading the industry, maximizing
customer operational time
GE is a leader in industrial
application experience

Through an independent third party data source, ORAP*

indicates that GEs F-class continues to lead F-technology
gas turbines in reliability and availability. This high reliability
and availability rate translates to increased operability and
reduction in life-cycle cost for our customers.
Source: ORAP; All rights reserved: SPS

Served 2.3 days

more per year of
required operation

GT Equipment Reliability
(July 07-June 08)

supporting alternate fuel choices and

enabling customer self generation

2007

GT Equipment Availability
(July 07-June 08)

2Q08

Available 8 days
more per year

%
2007

6 9 FA N E W E N H A N C E M E N T S

2Q08

9FA NE W ENHANCEMENTS 7

To learn more about this offering, contact

your GE Energy sales representative or visit
www.ge-energy.com

2009 General Electric Company. All rights reserved.

GEA17570 (05/09)