Press Release
The landmark unit - an LM6000 aeroderivative gas turbine equipped with M&IE's Dry Low Emissions combustion system - will be shipped to package Stewart & Stevenson International, Inc. later this month. the unit will begin commercial operation in October 1996 at the 509-megawatt Windsor cogeneration plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The facility, owned by TransAlta, will provide thermal energy - in the form of steam - to Chrysler Canada's Windsor Minivan Assembly Plant and electricity to Ontario Hydro.
During the awards presentation at M&IE's Evendale manufacturing facility, Dennis Little, vice president and general manager of M&IE, said: "We are extremely proud of M&IE's accomplishments and of our relationship with both the operators of LM gas turbines and the original equipment manufacturers who provide the LM-powered packages. It is an honor to have our 2,000th engine at the Windsor cogeneration facility. This project marks a significant milestone in M&IE's long service to the power generation equipment business."
Alan Moon, president of TransAlta Energy Corporation, said: "TransAlta has been a strong supporter of M&IE's LM6000 gas turbine technology since its inception. In fact, our cogeneration facility at the Ottawa Health Sciences Centre was the first worldwide application of the LM6000." Since the start-up of the Ottawa facility in November 1992, TransAlta has purchased an additional seven LM6000s, making them one of the largest end-users of this gas turbine.
Richard Stewart, executive vice president of Stewart & Stevenson International, Inc., also attended the ceremony. "We are delighted to participate in this awards presentation since TransAlta is one of our valued customers. The numbers speak for themselves: Stewart & Stevenson has packaged the majority of the LM6000 gas turbines sold to date, with six of them going to TransAlta-developed projects."
History of LMs
As a major manufacturer of aircraft gas turbines, it was logical for GE to expand its activities into the marine & Industrial arenas. In 1959, M&IE introduced its first aeroderivative gas turbine, the LM100. Also in 1959, GE introduced the LM1500, a derivative of the very successful J79 aircraft engine. The first LM1500 installation was on the H.S. Denison, a hydrofoil shop. some 167 applications of the LM1500 followed for land-based catapults, pipeline pumpers, marine propulsion, and power generation.
The mainstay of M&IE's aeroderivatives - the LM2500 - was introduced in 1969. Technological advances throughout the years have enable GE to increase the LM2500's nominal rating of 25,000 shaft horsepower to its current rating of 31,200 shaft horsepower. this gas turbine remains very popular today, with more than 1,300 LM2500s placed in service on oil drilling platforms, pipelines, power plants, cogeneration plants, process plants, as well as on naval and commercial marine vessels.
M&IE has introduced additional aeroderivative gas turbines to the LM line since the LM2500, including the LM500, LM1600, LM5000, LM6000, and LM2500+. GE offers the widest range of aeroderivative gas turbines in the industry, with complete coverage of the spectrum of 5,600 to 72,000 shaft horsepower.
GE M&IE, part of GE Aircraft Engines, is headquartered in Evendale, Ohio. M&IE is the world's largest developer, designer, and manufacturer of aeroderivative gas turbines.
Stewart & Stevenson of Houston, Texas, is an original equipment manufacturer/packager of GE aeroderivative and other gas turbines. The company also provides management and maintenance service for power plants.
TransAlta Energy Corporation, a subsidiary of TransAlta Corporation, based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, is in the business of electrical and thermal energy supply and electricity distribution.
