Rolls-Royce, the global power systems company, has announced the latest model to its industrial RB211 family. The H63 is a 44MW engine that will deliver at least 30% more power, more efficiently than earlier models.
Developed and engineered utilising technology from the group’s aero engines, the H63 will deliver significant operational and environmental benefits to customers.
The H63 will provide operators with an additional 11MW of power, higher fuel efficiency and operational flexibility. Combined, these features will earn for its owner a profit of $2m from additional generating revenue of $7m*.
The H63 will provide higher power and improved benefits to customers in both the electrical power generation and oil and gas industries, and has the capability for further improvements, including power growth of up to 13%.
Announcing the new development at the Power-Gen Europe exhibition and conference in Amsterdam, Steve Richards, Rolls-Royce, RB211 product director, said: “The RB211-H63 integrates the reliability and ruggedness of our current RB211 gas turbines with the proven technology from the group’s Trent aero engines to create the next evolution in the industrial RB211 gas turbine family.
“By combining the best features from the RB211 and Trent engines, we are able to deliver an engine designed for reliable operation, ease of maintenance and quick installation, and at the same time provide increased levels of efficiency and power.
“With versions of the RB211 now available in a power range from 29MW to a possible 50MW, and industrial Trent models supplying from 51MW to 64MW in simple cycle and up to 107MW in combined cycle, Rolls-Royce has a wide range ofhigh-efficiency gas turbines capable of meeting customers’ operational requirements from peaking to base load power.”
The recent advances in the production of natural gas leads most analysts to forecast that there should be ample supply of affordable natural gas way into the future. Coupled with the fact that the fuel emits less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels, means electric power operators in a carbon-constrained environment are likely to consider gas fired power stations.
In addition the ability of the H63 to start rapidly, follow load demand and its high cyclic life means it is a great compliment to renewable power generation sources which are inherently intermittent and unpredictable. The RB211-H63 is a great fit for these applications.
The RB211-H63 WLE (wet low emissions) will be ready to enter service in early 2012. It is expected that the first sale will be for an onshore power installation. The DLE (dry low emissions) option will be made available from 2013.
* Based on base load operation, a fuel cost of $7/mmBTU, and grid energy price of $80/MWhr).