Siemens and E.ON have reached a significant milestone in the area of 3D-printing for the energy sector. The 3-D printed burner for an SGT-700 gas turbine has been in operation for one year at E.ON’s combined cycle power plant in Philippsthal in the German state of Hessen. The burner has been operating for over 8,000 hours with no reported issues.
In 2017, Siemens began printing gas turbine burners using selective laser melting technology and they were the first burners produced by Siemens’ intelligent burner manufacturing (IBUMA) program in Finspång, Sweden. Each burner head is manufactured in one piece compared to traditional methods that required 13 individual parts and 18 welds. Design improvements, such as the pilot-gas feed being part of the burner head instead of the outside fuel pipe, allow the operating temperature to be kept lower, thus contributing to a longer operational lifespan of the components and, ultimately, the gas turbines.
Additive manufacturing is revolutionizing the development and production of components – not just in the automotive and aerospace industries but also in the energy sector. For example, it can be difficult for conventional manufacturing technologies to produce more efficient or low-emission turbines with higher temperature tolerances. 3-D printing now makes it possible to produce almost any structure imaginable. The process allows turbine components like gas turbine blades and vanes to be cooled through complex internal ducts, which improves their efficiency.
Siemens began investing in metal 3D printing back in 2008 and developed the technology specifically for power generation. In 2012, Siemens installed the first EOS M280 SLM printer and adapted it for burner repairs. In 2013, the first 3D-printed burner tips and swirlers were installed in commercial gas turbines. In 2016, Siemens acquired Materials Solutions in the United Kingdom, one of the world’s leading companies in the field of additive manufacturing. In 2017, Siemens’ 3D-Experts designed and printed the world’s first gas turbine blades and validated them under operating conditions. In the same year, the burners that were later deployed in Philippsthal for E.ON were built in Finspång
