GE launches world’s first two-stage turbocharged gas engine

GE has developed the world's first two-stage turbocharged gas engine in response to growing global demand for high-efficiency power generation.

GE said in a statement that it is applying "this game-changing technology" to its Jenbacher J624 gas engine.

The new two-stage engine provides significant output and efficiency increases compared to the single turbocharged version and is particularly well-suited for operation in hot environments and combined heat and power (CHP) applications.

It was introduced at an official product launch event held today at GE's gas engine headquarters in Jenbach, Austria, which more than 35 customers and distributors attended. Representatives from the pilot customer for the first new engine, Red Harvest, a large Dutch greenhouse plant operator, also attended the event.

"We are proud to be the pilot customer for this new J624 gas engine with two-stage turbocharging," says Jaap Noordam, owner of maker Red Harvest. "The new engine not only provides us with higher efficiency, but also offers us higher flexibility for our CHP operations."

With the new system, which GE developed with specialists from ABB Turbo Systems Ltd, the J624 achieves approximately 10 percent higher output, increasing from 4 megawatts (MW) to 4.4 MW and offers an electrical efficiency of 46.5 percent, an increase of about 1 percentage point. Improved efficiency is critical for the competitive cost of electricity and for the reduction of CO2 emissions in a carbon-constrained environment.

''With this technology breakthrough, GE continues to lead innovation in gas engines and has become the first gas engine manufacturer using two-stage turbocharging technology, enabling us to offer our customers significant performance improvements. While this technology initially is being applied to our largest gas engine, the J624, eventually it will be offered with other engines in our portfolio,'' said Prady Iyyanki, CEO-gas engines for GE Power & Water.