University of Notre Dame and Doosan Partner to Develop 300MW Gas Turbines

Test cells are currently under construction to house USD$2.5 million tests for Fall 2017.

Plans for the development of a new generation of 300-megawatt class gas turbines are moving ahead thanks to a new partnership between the University of Notre Dame’s  Notre Dame Turbomachinery Laboratory (NDTL) and Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction (DHI).

The aim of the partnership will be a focus on compressor testing and research, undertaken at NDTL’s 10MW compressor test cell.

The test cell is presently under construction and planned to be completely operational this fall. Once completed, the test cell will be one of the largest compressor research facilities on the globe.

The magnitude of the pending aerodynamic phenomena testing at NDTL’s new facility cannot be simulated by even the most powerful computers, the companies stated in a release.

Whilst NDTL will be providing the scientific real estate for testing, DHI will contribute its expertise in power generation equipment and EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction).

The director of NDTL, Joshua Cameron, expressed that: “The opportunity to work with a global leader like DHI is a testament to the unique research and testing capabilities of NDTL and the University as a whole. With the world-class capabilities we are building, our facility will be able to support any manufacturer in research and development for the next generation of turbomachinery products.”

Gas turbines are a particularly efficient method for generating power, especially when the waste heat from the turbines is recovered and recycled. Increases in efficiency and power output resulting from NDTL and DHI’s joint venture could lead to important advances in industrial manufacturing and research and may also reduce the impact of gas turbine power generation upon the environment.

The partnership between NDTL and DHI is set to last 19 months, at a cost of USD$2.5 million.

To better appreciate the scope and range of turbines, have a look at the world’s most powerful gas turbine.

For more information, visit the University of Notre Dame and Doosan Heavy Industries websites.