ALSTOM wins gas turbine upgrade order for Concord power
plant, USA

The innovative 11N1 to 11NM upgrade configuration includes
new turbine blades and vanes, heat shield segments, vane
carrier, and exhaust gas housing. The upgrade results in
improved efficiency and power output without any increase in
fuel usage or increased emissions. Optimized cooling and other
design improvements improve turbine reliability, availability
and maintainability relative to the GT11N engine, reducing the
life-cycle costs of the turbines.

The decision to award this order to ALSTOM clearly
demonstrates WEPCOs confidence in, and satisfaction
with, ALSTOMs technology and customer service. Rick
Kerzman, Senior Project Manager of Peaking Generation at WEPCO,
commented: ALSTOMs OEM expertise and extensive
experience with M upgrade packages were decisive
for us in choosing them to implement the upgrades.

ALSTOMs GT11NM fleet has now exceeded one million
Equivalent Operating Hours. With up to 10% efficiency increase
and an average reliability of 98.9% and availability of 96.0%
over a six-year-period (Source: ORAP*), the GT11NM is
delivering best in class performance.

*Operational Reliability Analysis Program

***

Press Enquiries:


Anna Newnham


Tel.: +33 1 41 49 34 42


Fax: + 33 1 41 49 27 74

anna.newnham@power.alstom.com

Project Enquiries:


Cécile Panaget


Tel.: + 33 1 49 92 41 68


Fax: + 33 1 49 92 42 01

cecile.panaget@power.alstom.com

Editors` Notes

ALSTOMs turbine upgrades bridge the gap between the
latest technological developments and existing gas turbine
designs in order to maintain our customers competitive
strength.

ALSTOM and Wisconsin Electric

ALSTOM delivered 8 x 11N1 gas turbines to Wisconsin Electric
from ALSTOMs Richmond, Virginia facility in 1992 and
1993 for the Paris and Concord power sites. These gas turbines
have provided 660 MW of reliable peaking power since that time
and are some of the most reliable units in the US system. The
Concord plant has four gas-fired GT11N1 turbines operating in
open-cycle mode.

GT11NM gas turbine upgrade

Performance measurements from the field have shown that
efficiency can be increased by up to 10%, resulting in
additional power of around 12% at unchanged firing
temperature.

The GT11NM upgrade includes new turbine blades and vanes,
heat shield segments, vane carrier, and exhaust gas housing.
Aerodynamically optimized turbine blading, an altered turbine
flow path and improved sealing produce significant efficiency
and power improvements and increased RAM (reliability,
availability and maintainability) performance relative to the
GT11N engine. Enhanced component reliability and a reduced
reconditioning scrap rate add up to a decisive maintenance cost
advantage.