Table of Contents
5. New technologies: risks and chances
Shall we be the first to purchase a car with this new technology? How often we stood for this matter of conscience! Let’s think about former times of the catalytic convertors. Indeed, the environment is dear to our heart, and also a profitable tax benefit. But will the fuel consumption stay tolerable? Are the high costs really justified? How about the lifetime? And what about burned-out catalyzers? Was there something with ignitioned cars? What happens if I exceptionally tank the wrong fuel ? In this case, is there an extreme expensive rapair necessary? What about if the technical inspection agency finds the catalytic converter insufficient? Many questions in connection with the introduction of a new technology.
These are questions that occupy also the user at the time of making the expensive investment of a gas turbine. He himself wants to be in the position to draw a picture from the different pieces of information available to him, as the suspicion that the area of interest of different sources does not necessarily tally with his own, cannot be discarded.
In the foreground stands verifiable good experience under meaningful operation conditions. Nobody wants to be a guinea pig. Even though, only with sufficient guarantees and benefits which equalise a possible risk. Because here also counts: You get only an essential advantage if you accept a certain risk.
It is, consequently, very important for the operator to be knowledgeable regarding new trends in gas turbines, their advantages and weaknesses. This should serve to arm him with more certainty in his investment decisions, helping him to avoid unnecessary risks.
In general, it can be said that the new technologies stem, to a decisive extent, from flight engine technologies, and here, especially, from the military division. Such technologies are, after the military serial introduction, tested extensively on a multiplicity of engines.
These tests go beyond what is possible for the typical small number and very limited development budgets of special industrial gas turbines (heavy types). This advantage of extensive testing in huge numbers under serial conditions stands in contrast to the comparatively shorter life of military usage (ca. 1000 h overhaul interval). Even when it has to do with civil flight engines, the running time (20,000 operation hours between full overhauls) does not correspond to what is expected in industrial implementation.
Operation and maintenance of flight engines differ clearly from that of typical industrial use. In this connection, one may refer to the low NOx problematic ( "Ill. 3.2.2-5"): in industrial gas turbines, procedures like water or steam injection come into use ( "Ill. 3.2.2-3"), or also dry low NOx technologies with special designs, which because of their size and weight cannot be used in flight engines. The conversion of aero engines and aero engine technologies for industrial use is advantageous but not problem free. For the operator it is of great importance to be acquainted with the experiences that exist, which allow him to draw conclusions regarding specific operation conditions. A healthy amount of doubt is positive and should flow into the contract when acquiring the engine.
"Illustration 5-1": Which technologies can we expect for industrial gas turbines? The author will answer this question from his sight of view. The following concept of time refers to ca. 2005.
Introduction: The large-scale production alredy began.
Short-term: Within the next 5 years in large-scale production.
Medium term: Within ca. 10 years