Natural gas is one of the major fuel sources in France, with ENGIE being its principal supplier. For the past 13 years GE has provided ENGIE with the technological solutions that are at the heart of its transportation and storage network.
GE is proud to announce that this partnership continues with the latest order of an Integrated Compressor Line (ICL) unit to expand a GRTgaz (subsidiary of ENGIE) compression station in Etrez, France.
This will be the third unit to be installed on the site and will raise the capacity to 27MW by 2018. Over the past few years, GE has provided forty high performance electric Variable Speed Drive Systems 鈥� which drive compressor trains 鈥� to ENGIE subsidiaries, Storengy and GRTgaz, eight of which are Integrated Compressor Lines.
GE鈥檚 ICL technology aims to accelerate the industry towards a future where gas is a reliable and clean resource. This innovative 鈥榓ll-in-one鈥� package is an example of the 鈥楪E Store鈥� at work. The GE Store draws technologies and expertise from across the entire company.
For example, the ICL combines GE Oil & Gas鈥檚 advanced centrifugal compressor technology and GE Power Conversion鈥檚 electric motors and drives systems. It is an integrated system that utilises four proven technologies: centrifugal compressors, high-speed electric motors, active magnetic bearings (AMB) and high frequency variable speed drives.
ICL produces no direct carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and leaks no methane into the atmosphere, thereby balancing productivity and environmental concerns.
GE鈥檚 ICL is technologically superior as the AMBs eliminate the need for oil lubrication auxiliaries, ensuring no leakage and zero emissions. ICL also requires very low maintenance cost, while gas cooling abolishes the need for an external cooling system, providing a much more compact solution.
Overall, it reduces operating and maintenance costs for the customer.
Sandro Malquori, Oil & Gas Business Leader, GE Power Conversion said, 鈥淥ur electric solution for natural gas compressors has grown in popularity. ENGIE in France has installed more than 40, showing significant confidence in our solution and clearly appreciating the value it provides. We are very proud of our relationship with ENGIE and look forward to many more years of their continued patronage.鈥�
鈥淪ince its introduction, our ICL technology has been well received by our customers,鈥� Luca Maria Rossi, general manager product management Turbomachinery Solutions, GE Oil & Gas, stated.
鈥淒esigned to meet growing operational and environmental challenges faced by compression plant operators, ICL reflects GE's ongoing commitment to reliable innovation and advanced technology solutions that tackle our customers' toughest challenges.鈥�
The ICL unit for GRTgaz will be manufactured in France at the GE Oil & Gas facilities in Le Creusot (compressor); GE Power Conversion facilities in Nancy (motor) and Courtaboeuf (drive). Final assembly and testing will be done at Le Creusot. It will be delivered to the project site in 2016.
Edited from source by