M501J turbines power combined cycle operation at Korea’s Yulchon II plant

The commencement of gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power generation at the Yulchon II power plant (Yulchon II) recently, marked the first GTCC operation of the J-Series turbines outside of Japan. Yulchon II is a 946.3MW GTCC power plant built by MPC Yulchon in Jeollanam-do, in which the M501J gas turbines are the heart of the GTCC.

Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS) had delivered the M501J gas turbines to Korea's MPC Yulchon Generation Co., Ltd. (MPC Yulchon). The MHPS M501J gas turbines have already been operational at Yulchon II since 2013, as simple cycle power generation gas turbines.

The 60 hertz (Hz) M501J gas turbines were developed using proprietary MHPS technologies. The turbine inlet temperatures of 1,600 degrees C are said to be the world's highest level of efficiency, with huge power generation capacity in such systems.

The GTCC power generation system uses gas and steam turbines in combination, utilizing high-temperature exhaust gas from the gas turbine to produce steam in HRSG to drive the steam turbine. This configuration results in higher thermal efficiency enabling reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) relative to electricity generation, thereby reducing the system's environmental impact. With J-Series gas turbines, GTCC power generation enables reductions in CO2 emissions of approximately 50 percent compared to conventional coal-fired power generation plants.

M501J gas turbines were introduced to the market in 2009, and orders for the units have steadily increased in Japan and abroad, reaching 27 units. Of these, 10 units are already in operation. In addition, orders for two 50 Hz M701J gas turbines have also been received.