GE Power has completed upgrading a fleet of four LM6000PA gas turbine gensets at the Dar es Salaam power station in Tanzania that have been operational since 2004.
In 2017, GE signed a multi-year agreement to upgrade them. Two of the four have been upgraded from LM6000PA to LM6000PC design performance by retrofitting them with SPRINT technology (water spray intercooling) for a 5 MW increase in unit output, from 38 MW to 43MW, and approximately a 3 percent improvement in efficiency.
GE says its advanced LM6000 aeroderivative technology offers great flexibility with up to 41% simple cycle efficiency (56% combined cycle), fast starts as little as 5 minutes from cold iron, rapid ramping to meet load and demand fluctuations, and the ability to cost effectively cycle multiple times per day – a concern for power grids that rely heavily on renewable generation.
Nigel Whittaker, managing director, Songas Ltd, adds that “the successful completion of this project not only improves Songas’ performance levels, but through the additional reliable supply of electricity, continues to contribute to the economic development of the country, making a significant difference in the lives of Tanzanians.”