Siemens has announced that it is developing its HL-class gas turbines. It has said that the company will validate the technologies of its HL-class at Duke Energy’s Lincoln County site in North Carolina, USA. Siemens is developing this class in an evolutionary development step derived from its SGT-8000H technology.
Siemens said that the HL-class gas turbine will be able to lead the way to efficiency levels above 63 per cent, with a mid-term goal to reach 65 per cent. In addition, Siemens will be transferring newly developed key technologies to its entire gas turbine portfolio. It said that this approach is part of a series of activities to enable its customers to “compete in a rapidly changing market”.
The Siemens HL-class consists of three engines: SGT5-9000HL, SGT6-9000HL, and SGT5-8000HL. In simple-cycle operation, the air-cooled SGT-9000HL will provide a capacity of 545 MW for the 50 Hz market, and 374 MW in the 60 Hz version. SGT5-8000HL will provide 453 MW in simple-cycle operation. All engines reach more than 63 per cent combined cycle efficiency.
The turbines operate at high combustion temperatures. The company claims to have developed advanced combustion technologies, multi-layer coatings, efficient internal cooling features, and an optimised water-steam cycle. Optimised sealings minimise cooling and air leakage, and evolutionary 3D-blading enables higher aero-efficiency for the compressor.