OAO TATNEFT has adopted a 3-year program to introduce "Capstone" micro-turbine power plants operating on associated petroleum gas (APG). The plans envisage installation of about 40 micro-turbine plants at the Company's facilities during this period.

 

As an experiment ZAO Tatex, a small oil company, had put a 30 kW "Capstone" micro-turbine into operation early in 2007. Given a successful five-year experience of the plant's operation, it was decided to build more powerful gas turbine station with a total capacity of 1,600 kW consisting of 8 mini turbines with annual gas consumption in the amount of about 4 million cubic meters.

 

A specific feature of the "Capstone" turbines is the layout of the main components of the unit, which allows placement of compressor, combustion chamber, regenerative heat exchanger, turbine and electric generator permanent magnets within a compact body. The generator is cooled by the airstream, thus eliminating the need for a liquid cooling system arrangement and increasing the reliability and efficiency of operating equipment. A design feature of the engine is application of air bearings, which provide for a high shaft rotation speed of up to 62,000 rpm. It allows to avoid oil application.

 

Due to a high degree of automation, the "Capstone" micro-turbine based power generating system can operate unattended. The turbine operation management is performed by the microprocessor-based automatic control system with remote access capability. This allows operating the unit in remote and hard-to-reach areas. The software program controls operating parameters of each turbine, changes generated power, if necessary, and performs testing of the unit. In addition, technicians can remotely control technical operation of the gas turbine unit complex starting from gas supply to the booster compressor station on out to gas feeding to the turbine.

 

Currently there are design works underway including equipment selection for construction of gas turbine plants at Oil & Gas Producing Boards Yamashneft, Elkhovneft and Bavlyneft of OAO TATNEFT.