AERO DERIVATIVE GAS TURBINES

Aircraft engines are used as ‘gas generators’, i.e. as a source of hot, high velocity gas. This gas is then directed into a power turbine, which is placed close up to the exhaust of the gas generator. The power turbine drives the generator.

The main advantages of Aero-derivative Gas Turbines are:-

• Easy maintenance since the gas generator can be removed as a single, simple module. This can be achieved very quickly when compared with other systems.

• High power-to-weight ratio, which is very beneficial in an offshore situation.

• Can be easily designed for single lift modular installations.

• Easy to operate.

• They use the minimum of floor area.

The main disadvantages of Aero-derivative Gas Turbines are:-

• Relatively high costs of maintenance due to short running times between overhauls.

• Fuel economy is usually lower than other types of gas turbines.

• The gas generators are expensive to replace.

Aero-derivative generators are available in single unit form for power outputs from about 8 MW up to about 25 MW. These outputs fall conveniently into the typical power outputs required in the oil and gas production industry, such as those on offshore platforms.