JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Stellar Energy, a provider of turbine inlet air chilling (TIAC), will supply a turbine inlet air conditioning system for Colorado electric utility Black Hills Energy’s Pueblo Airport Generating Station in Pueblo, Colorado.
The project includes design, manufacturing, supply, and commissioning support for a TIAC system for the plant's GE LM6000 aeroderivative turbine. The TIAC enhancement will deliver an approximately 20 percent increase in power output for the plant during the heat of summer, when electricity usage is generally the highest. The project also involves the supply of a natural gas-fired heater system that will be used for turbine anti-icing operation during cold temperatures.
Stellar Energy has worked on two previous Black Hills Energy projects in Colorado. In 2010, Stellar Energy designed, fabricated, and supplied two 3,800 TR turbine inlet air chilling systems for the Pueblo Airport Generating Station. “We customize our turbine inlet air chilling systems to meet each client’s specific requirements so they receive the single best solution for their power generation needs,” said Alan Culpepper, general manager, Stellar Energy Americas. “A repeat customer is a testament to our commitment to quality and individualized approach.”
The company said TIAC improves power producers’ profitability by increasing a gas turbine’s power output by up to 30 percent. By mechanically chilling the inlet air before it enters the compressor, TIAC gives the turbine a boost when it needs it most — in hot weather. In addition to increasing power output, TIAC improves the turbine’s efficiency, decreasing heat rate and emissions.
Stellar Energy will fabricate the TIAC solution in its Jacksonville, Florida, fabrication facility. Stellar Energy has designed, manufactured, and installed TIAC systems on more than 125 gas turbines, delivering more than 2,000 MW of capacity enhancement. The company also has more than 1.2 million tons of refrigeration (TR) installed worldwide.
For more information, visit www.stellar-energy.net.
Publication date: 9/22/2015
