Gas turbine power plants
Gas piston or gas turbine?
The choice between a gas turbine and a gas piston plant is a strategic decision that determines the efficiency of your energy complex for decades. We supply advanced solutions for providing electrical and thermal energy from world leaders - Baker Hughes and Innio Jenbacher, and we have experience with other equipment manufacturers.
To make a decision on the choice of the type of power plant, we recommend relying on a number of criteria. The main one is the load mode in which the plant should operate. Continuous, round-the-clock operation is ideal for a gas turbine both in terms of saving energy resources and in the context of engine maintenance. At the same time, starting and stopping a gas piston engine as needed is normal practice for this plant.
In general, gas piston power plants have higher electrical efficiency, are easily scalable, and do not require constant high gas pressure. Gas turbine plants allow you to generate steam, are efficient and durable at high generation capacity.
Industry Recommendations
Industrial Manufacturers: If your process cycle requires superheated steam (food, paper, chemical industries) and a stable power supply, Baker Hughes gas turbines will be the ideal heart of your power system.
Agro-industrial complex: For farms and processing plants that have access to biogas or only need hot water, limited small amounts of steam and electricity, Innio Jenbacher units provide maximum profitability and environmental friendliness.
Municipalities and housing and communal services: For district heating systems where the load fluctuates throughout the day, the best choice is the Jenbacher 420 or 620 series due to their ability to quickly adapt to changes in consumption.
Vancosta builds turnkey gas turbine power plants (GTPs) based on innovative solutions from the world leader – Baker Hughes. Our projects are based on the LT12 and LT16 series turbines, which embody decades of experience in aerospace technologies adapted for land-based generation. These plants are designed to provide uninterrupted power supply in the most difficult conditions.
LT12 (8~12.7 MW)
Baker Hughes NovaLT12 introduction video
The optimal solution for medium and large industrial facilities. The compact two-shaft design provides high maneuverability and reliability.
LT16 (15~16.9 MW)
Baker Hughes NovaLT16 introduction video
The flagship of the NovaLT series, demonstrating the highest efficiency in its class and extremely long maintenance intervals (up to 35,000 hours or 5 years of continuous operation before the first technical inspection and 70,000 m/h before major repairs).
Key features and benefits
- High potential heat: Unlike engines, turbine exhaust gases have a temperature of over 450–500°C. This allows generating not only hot water, but also high-quality process steam.
- Reliability: The operational availability factor reaches 99%. This makes the GTPP an ideal solution for continuous production cycles.
- Environmental friendliness: Minimal NOx and CO emissions thanks to modern fuel combustion systems that meet the strictest EU standards (NOx – 15 ppm. CO – 9 ppm).
- Low vibrations: The turbine design creates significantly less vibration load on the foundation compared to piston machines.
Technology limitations
- Temperature sensitivity: Turbine power can decrease at extremely high outdoor temperatures (compensated by installing air cooling systems at the inlet).
- Fuel pressure: The turbine requires high gas pressure (typically 28–36 bar), which requires the installation of an additional booster compressor in the absence of adequate pressure in the gas network.
Typical scenarios and areas of application
- Chemical and petrochemical industries: Where simultaneous generation of large amounts of steam and electricity is required
- Pulp and paper mills: For drying processes and energy-intensive lines
- Metallurgy: Ensuring stable power supply to furnaces and workshops
- Municipal heating: Large-scale cogeneration to provide heat and electricity to entire residential areas during the heating season
To increase the autonomy of your power plant, Vancosta recommends integrating additional systems:
- Heat recovery boiler (HRSG): Converts the heat of exhaust gases into steam or hot water, raising the overall efficiency of the plant to 85–90%.
- Pressure compressor unit (DCU): Provides the necessary gas pressure even when the pressure in the main network drops.
- Black Start system: Diesel generator set that allows you to start the turbine from the “standby” state “from scratch” in the complete absence of external power.
- Fuel preparation system: Filtration and drying of gas to protect the flow part of the turbine from corrosion and erosion. Ensures reliable operation of the gas turbine.
- Remote monitoring system: Online monitoring of Baker Hughes RMD or Jenbacher MyPlant parameters for preventive service and prevention of shutdowns.
- Connecting a solar station allows you to provide up to 30% of electricity needs in the summer months
- Connecting an energy storage system: guaranteed power supply in the absence of other sources or fuel
Baker Hughes NovaLT16 characteristics video