Siemens officially commissions new gas turbine burner test center

Siemens has commissioned its Clean Energy Center, a new burner test center for gas turbines in Ludwigsfelde near Berlin. Combustion processes in gas turbines will be examined and validated at the Clean Energy Center, with the aim of enhancing the efficiency of the Siemens gas turbines and improving their flexibility regarding the use of different liquid and gaseous fuels.

Siemens invested a total of around EUR 100 million in this new research and development site. The Clean Energy Center is part of the Siemens Berlin gas turbine manufacturing plant location.

In a gas turbine, different fuels, such as natural gas or liquid fuels, are mixed with air under high pressure and ignited in up to 24 burners, depending on the particular model. The Siemens gas turbine portfolio includes models with capacities between 5 to 400 megawatt (MW).

The new test center, which was erected on a site covering 36,000 square meters, will play a key role in the development of new and the modernization of existing gas turbines. There are now several test cells available in Ludwigsfelde in which combustion processes can be analyzed and optimized under realistic conditions.

In the course of these tests, various measured variables, such as output, efficiency, emission levels and flame stability are determined. The goal here is to qualify the gas turbines for new fuels so that new applications can be tapped.

Siemens tests the behavior of burners and gas turbines when burning contaminated gases, low-calorific process gases such as coke oven gas and blast furnace gas, or liquid fuels such as crude oil, naphtha, heavy fuel oil and other condensates produced in the petrochemicals industry.

“Our highly efficient gas turbine and combined cycle power plants are marked by their high degree of availability and flexibility and their low emissions. In our new Berlin test center we can conduct more intensive research into burner technology independently of external test facilities, which enables us to be even more innovative,” stated Christopher Steinwachs, head of the business segment Large Gas Turbines within the Siemens Power and Gas Division.

For further information on Division Power and Gas, please see: http://www.siemens.com/about/en/businesses/power-and-gas.htm

For further information on Siemens gas turbines, please see: http://www.energy.siemens.com/hq/en/fossil-power-generation/gas-turbines/

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of combined cycle turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2014, which ended on September 30, 2014, Siemens generated revenue from continuing operations of €71.9 billion and net income of €5.5 billion. At the end of September 2014, the company had around 357,000 employees worldwide.

Further information is available on the Internet at www.siemens.com

Reference Number: PR2015020130PGEN

Contact

Ms. Gerda Gottschick
Power and Gas Division
Siemens AG

Freyeslebenstr. 1

91058 Erlangen

Germany

Tel: +49 (9131) 18-85753

gerda.gottschick​​@siemens.com