The Rolls Royce (today Siemens) Trent 60 is the most modern among aircraft engine-based turbines, with an output of up to 66 MW and an efficiency of 42%.
The main applications for the Trent 60 turbine are in the power generation and oil and gas industries.
The Trent 60 turbine can be used as a mechanical drive in natural gas liquefaction, pipeline transportation and gas injection applications in hydrocarbon production. The Trent 60 is available for both onshore and offshore mechanical drive applications.
The flexibility of the Siemens Industrial Trent 60 allows the same plant used in energy production to be used to meet mechanical drive needs without any design changes.
Technical specifications Industrial Trent 60 DLE
| Use case | Power generation |
| Gross power output, kW (el.) | 54020 |
| Total heat release, kJ/kW(el.)-h | 8465 |
| Shaft speed, rpm | 3600 |
| Exhaust gas flow rate, kg/s | 158 |
| Exhaust gas temperature, °C | 431 |
Operating characteristics
| Frequency, Hz | 50 | 60 |
| Use variant | Electric power generation | |
| Gross power, kW (electric) | 53119 | 54020 |
| Total heat generation, kJ/kW (el.)-h | 8488 | 8465 |
| Shaft speed, rpm | 3000 | 3600 |
| Exhaust gas flow rate, kg/s | 155 | 158 |
| Exhaust gas temperature, °C | 433 | 431 |
Technologies used
To minimize emissions, the combustion system must operate at a certain flame temperature, balancing the formation of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO). This is very difficult to realize if fuel and air are introduced directly into the combustion chamber. Fuel and air are premixed to create a homogeneous mixture that is best suited for complete combustion with low emissions.
To enable the Trent 60 turbine to generate maximum power, an intercooling system injects pure water droplets into the compressor. The water “cools” the air, which improves the thermodynamic performance of the turbine. This is because much less energy is required to compress the cooler air. The dispersion of water droplets in a compressor rotating at speeds of up to 10,000 rpm can cause significant damage in the form of erosion. To solve this problem, Siemens applies its expertise in aerodynamic design to optimize water injection. Working with material manufacturers, Siemens also develops a variety of specialized coatings to counter erosion to maximize turbine performance.