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Makes a lot of sense as described, basically recycling using turbines retired for flight, but I wonder how efficient these retrofitted gas turbine generators ar
by mikkupikku 1y ago
Makes a lot of sense as described, basically recycling using turbines retired for flight, but I wonder how efficient these retrofitted gas turbine generators are compared to turbines originally designed and built for this fuel and application.
Edit: Turns out GE makes these things called LM2500 gas turbines and they're pretty much the same thing, CF6 aero turbines set up for power generation. They're advertised as being 35-39% efficient, which makes them rather on the less efficient end of the gas turbine spectrum. But they're light and quick to start so they have seem a lot of use in ships and some peaker plants. They definitely aren't the best turbine to be running a data center with long term, but if they can make them cheap and available that might be good enough. Not a new idea though.
- skewbone 1y agoThe PE6000 is closer to a GE LM6000 rather than an LM2500. https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lm6000 https://www.gevernova.com/gas-power/products/gas-turbines/lm... The LM6000 and its variants have been in operation since probably the 1980s. I can ask around at work. I used to develop the code for the LM6000. You're spot on that people use them for peaking, but it's a big mix. Peaking, mid-merit, and sometimes base load. There are low emissions versions as well, that keep NOx to a handful of ppm without using extra water.