Robust Gas Turbine Design Available to Purchase

Industrial gas turbines utilize numerous design features that cannot be implemented in jet aircraft turbines for weight reasons, but because of their straight-forward and robust nature trim costs and reduce both maintenance effort and operating risks. Regardless of manufacturer, the following design features, for example, have become the established industry standard: • single-shaft rotor; • 2 bearings at atmospheric pressure; • Journal bearing instead of ball bearings; • steel blading in the compressor. For the key components compressor, turbine, rotor, and combustion chamber of its 3A family (Fig. 1), Siemens has developed and tested additional features that reduce wear further and improve operational reliability. Operating experience gathered to date has shown that these features enable achievements of very high reliability and availability. Some of the measures described also contribute to enhanced output and efficiency.