Mitsubishi, Exxon Mobil team up to explore new applications for gas turbines

Japan-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Exxon Mobil in the US have joined forces to develop and explore new applications for their new H-100 gas turbines and compressor technologies.

The collaboration also involves Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Compressor (MCO) and Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems (MHPS) and is aimed at minimising liquefied natural gas (LNG) unit costs and also the complexity of LNG processing plants.

Through the partnership, the companies further plan to cut the lifecycle costs of the LNG plants and emissions by making improvements to MHPS’s existing two-shaft gas turbine technology.

The heavy-duty H-100 is a low-maintenance gas turbine and provides output in the medium range.

Two-shaft gas turbines reduce footprint and offer broad variable-speed operation and full-pressure start-up for LNG mechanical drive.

MHI president and CEO Shunichi Miyanaga said: "Collaboration with ExxonMobil will offer us the benefit of the company’s technical expertise, insights, and experience in LNG projects as we develop the next generation of gas turbines, systems that will be even more efficient and cost-effective and will reduce emissions in LNG applications.

"We are very pleased that ExxonMobil has qualified MHPS’ H-100 gas turbine technology for use in LNG facilities, and we look forward to continuing this work to further develop technology to reduce LNG costs, maximise plant operating rates, and provide stable operation over the long term."

Separately, MHPS has launched full-scale operations at a newly completed gas turbine maintenance and repair plant, known as MHPS Saudi Arabia Repair Factory in Dammam.

The facility will function as a service base under an agreement concluded with the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco).

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Image: H-100 gas turbine/compressors for LNG plant. Photo: courtesy of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.