GE To Provide Five Lms100™ Gas Turbines
Second Order for the New Machine
Milan, Italy — GE has announced that it has signed a contract to provide five LMS100™ gas turbines to East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) of Winchester, KY.
Under the scope of the contract, GE will install the five LMS100 gas turbine generators at East Kentucky's J.K. Smith Station. Each unit has a nominal rating of 100 megawatts and will be operated in simple-cycle mode for peaking and mid-load requirements. Natural gas will be the primary fuel with number 2 distillate as a backup. The additional power generated will be used by EKPC to supply its member/owner cooperatives.
The contract is contingent upon EKPC receiving approval from the Kentucky Public Service Commission.
The 100-megawatt LMS100, first introduced in December 2003, represents the first time GE has combined components from GE Energy's heavy-duty frame gas turbines and GE Transportation's aeroderivative gas turbines to provide significant improvements in gas turbine efficiency. The LMS100 is the most extensive collaboration of design and manufacturing in GE's history, with four GE business units and three other companies participating in the development program.
The units will be packaged at GE Energy's Jacintoport facility in Houston, Texas. GE will install the LMS100 gas turbine generators on a staggered schedule, with the first equipment shipping in September 2006. The first unit is scheduled to go into commercial operation in April 2007, followed by two more units in November 2007 and the final two units in April 2008.
The core engine, a gas generator consisting of the LMS100 high-pressure compressor, single annular combustor and high-pressure turbine, began testing in November 2004 at the high- altitude test cell in GE Transportation's test facility in Ohio. Core engine testing was successfully completed in December 2004.
In addition to the core engine, a second completely instrumented supercore (a core engine plus intermediate pressure turbine) was shipped to Houston in November 2004. Within hours of its arrival, the supercore was installed and aligned on the main gas turbine base, where it was joined to the previously installed low-pressure compressor module and power turbine assembly. The complete gas turbine generator set, including the intercooler, will be instrumented with approximately 3,000 sensors for validation testing. This development gas turbine package is expected to complete validation testing in the summer of 2005.
GE Energy announced its first order for the LMS100 in July 2004 to Basin Electric Power Cooperative of Bismarck, N.D. for installation at a site in South Dakota.
East Kentucky is a not-for-profit organization providing wholesale electricity to 16 distribution cooperatives that serve 490,000 Kentucky homes, farms, businesses and industries across 89 counties. EKPC provides power through plants located in Mason, Clark and Pulaski counties, along with gas peaking units, hydro power and more than 2,600 miles of transmission lines. In addition, EKPC operates three renewable energy plants in Boone, Laurel and Greenup counties. Together, EKPC and the member cooperatives are known as Kentucky's Touchstone Energy Cooperatives.
GE Energy's aeroderivative division is a leading supplier of aeroderivative gas turbines, gas-fueled reciprocating engines, packaged generator sets and diesel engines for industrial and marine applications. The company provides power-generating equipment to utilities, industries and marine fleets throughout the world. It is also the world's largest and most experienced aeroderivative gas turbine service provider.
SOURCE: GE Energy