General Electric 6B

The 6B is a small heavy-duty gas turbine, rated at about 45 MW, that General Electric first installed in 1978 and that GE Vernova still supports and sells. It was built for tough sites: it can run in island mode with no grid, has black start capability and copes with repeated start-ups, which made it a common choice for refineries, natural gas liquefaction power, combined heat and power plants and industrial sites. The maker counts more than 1,200 units installed since 1978 and more than 55 million operating hours. It burns a wide range of gases and distillate liquids, including heavy oils, naphtha, bioethanol, methanol, synthetic and steel mill gases, and standard combustion is capable of up to 100 percent hydrogen. Its exhaust gives enough heat to make industrial steam at up to 110 bar without extra firing. The first 6B went into service at the Glendive station of Montana-Dakota Utilities.