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In this episode of the TurboTime podcast, Myth Busters Klaus Burn of Ebara Elliott Energy and Rainer Kurz of RKSBenergy LLC dive into electrification: what it is and debunk the myth that it and machines—such as hermetically sealed compressors and high-speed electric motor drives—hydrogen blending and others are decarbonized.

TURBO: Can you break down the assertion that that machinery electrification and electric-motor drives are a decarbonization myth?

 There are a lot of decarbonization myths that don’t just have to do with electrification and electric motors and hermetically sealed drives and high-speed motors, but they also have to do with hydrogen blending, unburned hydrocarbons and gas turbines, and other types of emissions that are part of the sustainable energy economy. What we set to do, however, is talk about electrification, which is basically when you take a turbomachine, a compressor or pump, and instead of running it with a driver—e.g., a gas or steam turbine, which has been done traditionally at a lot of compressor stations, pipelines, or in refineries, ethylene plants, or other places—you actually replace them with an electric motor. And, obviously, an electric motor does not have any emissions directly; it just shifts the responsibility of the carbon production from where you utilize the electric motor to where the electricity comes from. And the last time I checked, at least in most of the industrialized nations such as North America, 60% of all fossil electricity comes from fossil fuels, a mix of natural gas and coal. China actually has more—I think 70% of the electricity comes from fossil fuels, mostly coal, which is very dirty. Europe is not quite as bad. They now have about 40% alternative energies, but still a substantial part. So, you're really just shifting the carbon emission from one place to another, sometimes in a very, very inefficient way.

 In a way, this discussion is always about where you draw the emissions boundaries. Klaus is right: As soon as you can shift your emissions outside your boundaries, you can claim you are carbon-neutral, whereas, in reality, you just made somebody else deal with your carbon emissions. There are quite a few studies that address that one way or another and very clearly show if you make electricity while creating CO

 or other emissions, you may create more emissions with an electric driver than with a driver that’s driven by fossil-fueled engines.

Podcasts

Klaus Brun and Rainer Kurz break down the myth that electrification and electric-motor drives are decarbonized. 

TurboTime Podcast: Debunking Machinery Decarbonization Myths

In this episode of the TurboTime Podcast, Myth Busters Klaus Burn of Ebara Elliott Energy, and Rainer Kurz of RKSBenergy LLC, discuss root-cause analysis (RCA), including what it is, the philosophy and methodologies behind it, what actions should and should not be taken, and more.

Brun said: “RCA, some folks call it root-cause failure analysis, looks at something that failed: Your machine had a catastrophic failure, or you’re missing performance by a percent or two—something is not as you would expect in a compressor or gas or steam turbine, and you want to figure out what it is. So, you perform an RCA based on certain symptoms. In most cases, RCA starts with a review of the machine’s operation that may have preceded the failure and in some cases a metallurgical investigation, which is one of the best indicators as to what failed. It can indicate it was high-cycle fatigue, sudden overload, corrosion or erosion, for example. Then you figure out what excitation may have caused the high-cycle fatigue or what in your process gas may have caused corrosion or erosion.”

Kurz said: “In a way, this is a bit like a detective story. You find something failed, aka the dead body, and then you gather evidence. One of the key things in root-cause failure analysis is that you not only gather evidence, but you also document it. One of the key problems when these reports are written is you have a failure in 2015, for example, and you conduct an RCA, and the next similar failure isn’t for another 10 years. (These events don’t happen that often.) And if you haven't documented what you did for the first one, you can’t use it as a starting point.”

Klaus Brun and Rainer Kurz discuss root-cause analysis—what it is, its methodologies, and why it’s so important to managing turbomachines.

TurboTime Podcast: Root Cause Analysis with the Myth Busters 

This episode of the TurboTime podcast features an onsite interview from our Turbo Tour of EthosEnergy’s Light Gas Turbine and Performance Center Facility in Houston. Assistant Editor James Cook talks with Daniel Tegtmeier, Director of EthosEnergy's Performance Center, about remote monitoring and operations, the changing energy landscape, and the benefits of remote start/stop and virtual capabilities.

Q: How does remote monitoring keep simple-cycle assets viable in a market focused on renewable energy?

 If you think about a machine built 20+ years ago and its efficiency, it still has a place in the market when competing with renewables. It’s not like it used to be though—these units used to run wide-open, 24/7. They’re now intermittent assets competing with renewables and zero-cost fuels, but once the wind stops blowing and the sun stops shining, that load is gone.

These are simple-cycle configurations, so they can come online quickly and be at 100 - 120 MW in less than an hour. So, you’re going to staff a facility 8,000 hours per year in case they call you up? That’s part of what we do and the justification for remote operations—you need the intermittent load from simple-cycle assets in rapid fashion, but you can’t afford to staff these places full-time.

Q: In addition to that justification, are there any safety improvements delivered through remote start/stop and control capabilities?

 Economics seems to drive most decision processes behind whether you’re remotely operating a facility or not; however, there’s a huge safety aspect. You don’t need people there 24 hours a day around equipment with a lot of pent-up energy, so exposure levels drop dramatically. For the most part, these machines are designed so well and over-engineered from day one that they’re conducive to [remote monitoring].

In this episode of the TurboTime podcast, Daniel Tegtmeier, Director of EthosEnergy’s Performance Center, talks about remote operations and monitoring. 

TurboTime Podcast: Remote Monitoring with EthosEnergy

In this episode of the TurboTime podcast, Klaus Brun and Rainer Kurz talk about turbine degradation. They define terms such as fouling, corrosion, erosion, and rubbing and dig a little bit into what causes degradation, how it can be measured and minimized, and the difference between recoverable and non-recoverable degradation.

Burn explained: “A gas turbine system consists of a compressor, combustor, and one or several turbines, so degradation at its highest level is simply measured by what power output and efficiency to expect under certain operating conditions from a new machine and how much less power and less efficiency do you get after that machine has been running for thousands or tens of thousands of hours. The primary measurement is really on a macro level.”

During this episode, the Myth Busters break down the many terms associated with degradation, what components degrade, how it can be measured and minimized, and more. 

TurboTime Podcast: Turbomachine Degradation with the Myth Busters

Myth Busters Klaus Brun and Rainer Kurz join the TurboTime podcast to chat about additive manufacturing. They dive into its history in the industry, its advantages as a viable technology, its limitations, and new advancements that could drive the technology further.

Brun explained: “About 40 years ago, additive manufacturing technology started coming out based on using materials such as polymers and resins that were heated up and layered on top of each other using some kind of robotic arm or plotter that in the 3D space. It wasn’t all that relative from a turbomachinery perspective at the time because yes, you could use that to make a mold for a cast, but other than that, it wasn’t realistic. About 20 years ago, we started seeing additive manufacturing using metals. There are a number of techniques, but the most popular ones are direct metal sintering or selective metal-laser sintering—these techniques are when you have a layer of metal and a heat source, and you put the heat source on the powder-metal layer to create a 3D geometry in 3D space. That technique has developed over the last 20 years—it came out with lots and lots of promises, some of which held up while other promises didn't hold up."

“From a turbomachinery perspective, there are many parts in a compressor, for example, or a gas or steam turbine, that are relatively standard pieces; you would probably not use additive manufacturing for those pieces because they're always the same, so you would cast them or quickly machine them. But then there are certain pieces that are either very intricate in geometry, so they require many smaller pieces to be put together or that are customized like impellers for centrifugal compressors. So here, theoretically, additive manufacturing should have an advantage because additive manufacturing provides you with the potential to build customer parts.” 

What’s the history of additive manufacturing, how is it used to manufacture turbomachines, and does it really have a future in the turbo industry? Find out more from the Myth Busters in this episode of the TurboTime Podcast. 

TurboTime Podcast: Additive Manufacturing with the Myth Busters 

In this episode of the TurboTime podcast, we talk about geothermal power generation with Joseph Bonafin, sales and business development manager at Turboden, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group. We dive into the history of geothermal power, how it’s grown over the past 20 - 25 years, and how it fits into the decarbonization journey. We also look at what’s next for geothermal power generation.

Bonafin said there are several innovations in the pipeline for Turboden and geothermal power: “The integration of organic Rankine cycle (ORC) technology with other innovative geothermal technologies, such as enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), closed-loop geothermal systems, and lithium extraction from geothermal brine, can improve efficiency, sustainability, and economic viability.

“EGS generates electricity from hot dry rock locations, enhancing the heat exchange by circulating clean water through artificially engineered fractures. This efficiently converts moderate temperature into electricity, expanding the geographic applicability of ORC projects to previously inaccessible heat sources, especially for large-scale projects.

“Closed-loop geothermal systems provide environmentally friendly alternatives by creating a thermosyphon effect by drilling multiple lateral wells underground. Integrating ORC with closed-loop systems minimizes the environmental impact and reduces water consumption,” he continued.

“Lithium extraction from geothermal brine, crucial for electric batteries, is a sustainable source. ORC technology works as a cooler for the lithium extraction process in the shared infrastructure, contributing to a more economically viable and environmentally friendly process. Sale of electricity is added on top to the additional revenue stream coming from lithium extraction, promoting a cleaner and more profitable energy supply chain.

“In summary, the amalgamation of ORC technology with EGS, closed-loop systems, and lithium extraction from geothermal brine creates a holistic approach to geothermal energy production. This synergy enhances diverse resource utilization, promotes environmental sustainability, and contributes to the production of rare materials required for emerging technologies. This integrated approach underscores geothermal energy's potential in a sustainable and diversified global energy portfolio.”

Joseph Bonafin, sales and business development manager at Turboden, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, joins the TurboTime podcast to discuss geothermal power generation.  

TurboTime Podcast: Geothermal Power Generation with Turboden

In this episode of the TurboTime podcast, the Myth Busters, Klaus Brun, the Director of R&D at Elliott Group, and Rainer Kurz, a recent retiree from Manager of Gas Compressor Engineering at Solar Turbines, discuss turbomachinery codes and standards. The two differentiate codes versus standards, which are important for turbomachinery, and what to do if an operator or manufacturer disagrees with a standard.

Brun broke down the four components: standards, codes, specifications, and guidelines. “A standard is somewhat of a generic requirement; you can almost call it the minimum requirement that industry associations agree on for a piece of equipment,” he said. “There's a lot of gray area between here. Next are specifications—they are often related to a specific customer—one of the major oil companies may have its own specifications, and they often tie in standards. For example, let's say Shell or Chevron has their own machinery specification, and they may refer to standards, such as American Petroleum Institute (API) 616 or the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standards, material standards, etc. And then you get into things like codes, where the gray area becomes even bigger. But codes traditionally refer to something a little stricter. These can be test codes, where there is a process that you have to follow, and you don't deviate from this process. There are codes related to OSHA requirements or legal requirements. Codes tend to be a little more rigid, more relevant, and more richly followed. Finally, there are industry guidelines from the API and other professional societies. They give advice and guidance on how to handle testing processes, design, etc.”

Kurz stressed that standards are not legally enforceable unless included in a purchasing agreement: “What makes a standard enforceable is if a customer in the purchase specifications says ‘Thou shalt follow such and such API requirement or these ASME standards.’ And then it becomes part of the contract and enforceable” he said.

Kurz also pointed out that one purpose of codes and standards is for system integration. “If you build a refinery, there's one manufacturer who builds the compressor, then there are people who build the pressure vessels, others who build the piping, and maybe the steam turbines. So, there are a lot of different parties involved that have to come together. And one thing that these codes and standards do is create a reasonable definition of the interfaces. At the end of the day, somebody needs to integrate all that equipment.”

The Myth Busters, Klaus Brun and Rainer Kurz, discuss turbomachinery codes and standards on the TurboTime podcast. 

TurboTime Podcast: Turbomachinery Codes and Standards with Myth Busters

In this episode of the TurboTime podcast, Klaus Brun and Rainer Kurz talk about methane leakage in the oil and gas industry, which is only one of the many sectors that contribute to methane emissions in the United States. The biogas sector, including landfills and agriculture, contributes to methane leakage as do coal mines. That said, our industry still accounts for a percentage of methane emissions. The Myth Busters discuss where and how it occurs in the oil and gas industry, how different types of compressors compare in terms of leakage, the role of dry gas seals, and more.

“Methane leakage, in our industry, is primarily from natural gas; and natural gas is called natural gas because it is natural—it is naturally occurring and naturally created,” Brun said. “So, if you talk about methane leakage in the oil and gas industry—really what we should be talking about is natural gas leakage—it is a relatively small part overall of the total natural gas leakage in the world. It is roughly three times smaller than natural gas that is created by natural sources being wetlands and swamps and whatever. The oil and gas industry contributes about three times less than what natural sources do. Also, agriculture contributes about twice as much natural gas. The actual amount of leakage of natural gas into the environment due to the oil and gas industry is somewhat debated and a lot of numbers are floating around, but typically you're talking somewhere between 10 - 20% of the total natural gas that is emitted into the environment comes from oil and gas. The rest is, as I mentioned before, from natural-occurring sources, such as wetlands and agriculture.

“When you look at the oil and gas process, which basically means you're getting oil and gas out of the ground at a well, and then that oil and gas is transmitted to pipelines, and then it goes to either a consumer, you and me, or it goes to industrial places, or it goes to power plants,” Brun continued. “And so, there are many places in that process where it can leak. For very basic economic reasons, nobody wants this gas to leak, right? It costs a lot of money to get it out of the ground, and it costs a lot of money to transport it, and it costs a lot of money to do something with it. So, nobody really wants it to leak, so there is a natural desire by our industry to keep this gas from leaking, but it does.”

In this episode of the TurboTime podcast, Myth Busters Klaus Brun and Rainer Kurz talk about methane leakage. 

TurboTime Podcast: Methane Leakage with Myth Busters 

In this episode of the TurboTime podcast, Myth Busters Klaus Brun and Rainer Kurz close out our two-part discussion on compressor drivers. Brun and Kurz talk about gearboxes—their advantages and disadvantages, and why are engineers afraid of them. They also discuss dual-drive compressors and compressors with both drivers and generators in a string—when are they used, and where they fit best.

In Part II of our TurboTime podcast on compressor drivers, the Myth Busters discuss gearboxes and dual-drive compressors.

TurboTime Podcast: Part II: Gearboxes + Dual Drives

In our two-part podcast episode on compressor drivers, the Myth Busters give a detailed account of various drivers, including gas turbines, steam turbines, and electric motors. Klaus Brun and Rainer Kurz talk about the general features of each driver, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and how to match a compressor with a driver when factoring in fuel sources, power, speed, the type of compressor, and other determining factors. They also dive a little into gearboxes and why they are, at times, needed.

“First, we need to look at what is the compressor?” Brun said. “A compressor is used to compress the gas; it is a machine that requires some kind of driver that puts energy into the compressor. So, you need a device that the compressor wants to run at a certain speed and certain power. There has to be some kind of input device that can be divided by application, fuel source, power source, and so on. So, let's say you have a centrifugal compressor—you probably want something that spins, right? An electric motor drive, a gas turbine, a steam turbine …if you're driving a reciprocating compressor, you would like something like an engine that also reciprocates because that tends to match a little better. But you can also use an electric motor.

“Then the question becomes—before you get into the technical stuff—what fuel is available? Let's say you are running a centrifugal compressor on a natural gas pipeline. Then the obvious choice is a device that can burn natural gas as a fuel, and that's typically a gas turbine. Similarly, if you're in a refinery or some kind of petrochemical application where you have a lot of steam available because you have boilers and other processes that require steam, then you would select a steam turbine as your driver. In many cases, because electricity is available or other restrictions keep you from running a gas or steam turbine, you would choose an electric motor drive, which presents advantages and disadvantages. But you have to remember that an electric motor drive does require quite a bit of electric power.”

In this episode of the TurboTime podcast, the Myth Busters break down the types of compressor drivers—their advantages and disadvantages, optimal applications, and more.

TurboTime Podcast: Part I: Myth Busters Talk Compressor Drivers

The GTF Advantage engine increases payload capacity, extends flight range, and lowers CO2 emissions with improved take-off thrust and fuel efficiency.

MHI’s GTF Advantage Aero Engine Obtains Federal Aviation Administration Certification

Andres Galnares, CEO of H2SITE, says the palladium-alloy membrane simplifies hydrogen transportation through onsite generation with carrier molecules.

H2SITE’s Membrane Separator Paves Road to Hydrogen Infrastructure, Economy

Rolls-Royce will install the NautIQ Foresight system on a pilot vessel, collecting performance data to improve automation for future testing.

Rolls-Royce, Singapore Institute of Technology Developing Tech for Maritime Industry

At WTUI, Jack Odlum of HRST explains two ways to optimize HRSG efficiency: operational efficiency and thermal efficiency.

Operating and Design Modifications Improve HRSG Efficiency

Matt Gentry of Airflow Sciences says faster processing speeds and improved computing allow flow models to present turbine data more quickly and accurately.

Flow Modeling Provides Data-Filled Window into Gas Turbine, Plant Performance

During our tour of Texas A&M’s Turbomachinery Laboratory, 

, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, explained his lab’s latest research initiative and how it may impact component scalability industry wide. Delgado also shared his perspective on how the Turbo Lab benefits graduates and undergraduates via immersive education and hands-on experience.

Turbomachinery Laboratory graduates are engaged with classes and real-life operating experience before entering the OEM and end-user workforce, says Dr. Delgado.

Dr. Delgado Shares Turbo Lab’s Research Updates, Path for Texas A&M Grads

TURBO: What research is the Delgado Lab currently working on?

Right now, we are working on several initiatives. One of them is the development of oil-free bearings for MW-range machines. Currently gas bearings can be used in small machines and are commercially available; however, the technology is not scalable. For example, if you have a methane compressor, we’d like to have methane bearings lubricating or supporting that compressor.

TURBO: How does the Turbo Lab work for graduates? What’s next for them?

The moment that a graduate or undergraduate student gets involved with the Turbo Lab, their journey in turbomachinery starts. At this point, they get immersed in classes, real experience at the Lab, and everything related to rotating equipment. After this, [students] will always seek jobs in the rotating equipment field, which can include OEMs and end users. At the end of the day, they will become the technical experts in the field of rotating equipment.

B roll video credit: Texas A&M University Division of Marketing & Communications

Dr. Delgado says Turbo Lab graduates are engaged with classes and real-life operating experience before entering the OEM and end-user workforce.

Welcome to the second edition of the Turbomachinery News Network. I’m James Cook, assistant editor at 

The Turbomachinery News Network, for the week of March 24, 2025, covers news from GE Vernova, GE Aerospace, Baker Hughes, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and LNGameChanger.

GE Conducts Outage, Inaugurates XEOS, Baker Hughes Executes Drilling, KHI Builds Demo Facility, LNGameChanger Develops Powertrain

 completed gas turbine outage and maintenance operations at the Riyadh 8 power plant. The outage was led by GE Vernova’s Gas Power One Field Services Team and supported the reliability and efficiency of the plant’s power generation assets.Saudi engineers and specialists conducted detailed planning and execution, established strict safety protocols, and delivered the project on schedule with GE Vernova’s Live Outage digital tool.

GE Aerospace and Lufthansa Technik recently inaugurated the 

 engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility—a 35,000-square-meter facility that leverages GE Aerospace’s lean operating system, FLIGHT DECK, to deploy best practices in design and operation.XEOS is currently conducting LEAP-1B shop visits and LEAP-1A module work and engine testing, with plans to increase overhaul capacity and repair capability in the coming months.

Baker Hughes, under a multi-year contract with the Dubai Petroleum Establishment and Dubai Supply Authority, will execute 

 work at the Margham Gas Storage Project. The company will leverage its CoilTrak coiled-tubing bottomhole assembly system and under-balanced drilling expertise.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) started building a 

hydrogen compressor demonstration facility

 at its Harima Works in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The facility will test the company’s new, world-first centrifugal hydrogen compressor for hydrogen liquefaction plants, the KM Comp-H

. KHI expects to complete construction in November 2025, followed by one year of operational testing. The new machine achieves high-boosting performance through ultra-high-speed rotating technology, including KHI’s newly developed impeller, which optimizes a small molecular weight gas like hydrogen.

The HAV Group, Havila Voyages, Molgas Norway, and SINTEF established a consortium to decarbonize the maritime transport industry: 

. Their main objective is to design, manufacture, test, and commercialize an LNG-fired power train that uses solid-oxide fuel cells and onboard CO

 liquefaction and storage, meeting the CO

-equivalent intensity of Norway’s 2045-2050 emission standards.

Welcome to the first edition of the Turbomachinery News Network. I’m James Cook, assistant editor at 

The Turbomachinery News Network, for the week of March 17, 2025, covers news from Chart Industries, Cheniere Energy, the U.S. Department of Energy, Rolls-Royce, and Baker Hughes.

Chart Delivers Equipment, Cheniere Completes Train 1, DOE Funds Nuclear, Rolls-Royce Powers Sea Vessels, Baker Hughes Designs Piping

Blue Spruce Operating recently selected Chart Industries

 to supply the nitrogen rejection unit (NRU), helium process technology, and related equipment for its Dry Piney Helium and Carbon Sequestration Project in Sublette County, WY. The company also completed the front-end engineering and design for both the NRU and helium plant. The project will produce bulk liquid helium and natural gas.

Cheniere Energy, in cooperation with Bechtel Energy, substantially completed and commissioned Train 1 at the 

Corpus Christi Stage 3 Liquefaction Project

 (CCL Stage 3), obtaining care, custody, and control for the completed asset. CCL Stage 3 consists of seven midscale liquefaction trains, with an expected total production capacity of over 10 million tons per annum of LNG. Once substantial completion is finished for all seven trains, the facility’s projected total production capacity will be over 25 MTPA of LNG.

The Department of Energy granted a second loan disbursement to Holtec for the 

. Once online, the Palisades reactor will generate 800 MW of low-cost, reliable baseload power for Michigan residents. The Palisades project is expected to support or retain up to 600 high-quality jobs in Michigan, representing America’s first restart of a commercial nuclear reactor that previously ceased operations.

German Customs Administration selected Rolls-Royce

 to supply 15 mtu 16V4000 gas engines for four newbuild customs vessels, satisfying a modernization, propulsion, and on-board power program for maritime transport in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. Rolls-Royce also signed a long-term service agreement for 11 fleet vessels, ensuring reliable operation for its mtu engines.

 established a collaborative technology program to develop and test next-generation flexible pipe systems to address stress corrosion cracking due to CO

. The pre-commercial agreement will be executed at Baker Hughes’ Energy Technology Innovation Center and local flexible pipe systems manufacturing plant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Dr. Adolfo Delgado, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University’s Turbomachinery Laboratory, guided the 

 team through the lab, located in College Station, Texas, during our visit last month.

During our tour, he spoke about the latest research being conducted on rotating equipment systems and components and relevant trends and changes. According to Delgado, the industry’s most prevalent trend is transitioning toward high-power density machines, which the Lab’s component-level testing addresses.

Adolfo Delgado of Texas A&M’s Turbomachinery Laboratory says component-level testing and development have significant impacts on the industry as a whole.

Texas A&M’s Dr. Delgado Talks Component-Level Testing, Power Density Trends

TURBO: What improvements or research have been applied to rotating equipment, rotor dynamics, pumps, etc., at the Turbo Lab?

There are a number of developments and improvements that have been made over the years. We constantly work with our sponsors to understand the industry’s needs and how we can help improve their equipment. In terms of what we do here, we’ve mainly worked with components and have improved bearings, seals, and dampers. These are components that go directly into the machines and have a significant impact on the industry.

TURBO: What trends are you seeing in the rotating equipment space?

A constant trend that we’re seeing in the industry is increasing power density, and everything we do in terms of improving machinery is toward that goal. We work at a component and system level to find ways to improve power density. Another trend we’re seeing is high-power density CO

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