OREANDA-NEWS. A state-of-the-art M501J gas turbine delivered by Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems, Ltd. (MHPS) to the Himeji No.2 Power Station of The Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc., the first unit to go into commercial operation at that location, has surpassed an accumulated 8,000 hours in service. This feat reconfirms the superlative reliability of the M501J, a gas turbine featuring the world's highest level of operating efficiency.

The Himeji No.2 Power Station, which utilizes natural gas as its fuel, is Kansai Electric Power's largest-scale thermal power generation plant. It provides a total output of 2,919 megawatts (MW) configured from six natural-gas-fired gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power generation units each having an output of 486.5 MW. The M501J forms the core equipment in each of these six units, enabling the world's highest level of operating efficiency. To date, the first three units have gone into commercial operation; the remaining three units will progressively go into service by March 2015. The first M501J gas turbine went into commercial operation in August 2013.

The M501J is a 60Hz gas turbine developed by MHPS applying proprietary technologies. It achieves an inlet temperature of 1,600?, one of the highest in the industry. This enables a rated output of approximately 320 MW when the gas turbine is operated alone, and some 460 MW when it is part of a GTCC system that also incorporates a heat recovery boiler and steam turbine. Taken together, these specifications contribute significantly to reducing environmental burdens.

Originally launched in 2009, the M501J gas turbine has attracted steadily expanding orders from both the Japanese and global markets. To date, orders have been received for a total of 27 units, including the first order from the U.S. this spring. Of the 27, a total of 10 are now in commercial operation, and collectively - including the hours in service at Himeji No.2 Power Station - they have registered more than 40,000 hours in operation.

Orders have also been received for two units of the M701J, a 50Hz gas turbine. Going forward, MHPS will continue to dedicate its efforts to winning further market adoption of these state-of-the art systems.