With new electric devices being developed at a rapid rate, electricity will make up about 25% of final energy consumption by 2040, according to IEA estimates. Brushing climate concerns aside, Richard Zhang, technology executive at GE’s Power Conversion says: “Future electrical machines will generate power with higher density, higher efficiency and allow for a higher degree of integration.”
The benefits of electrification, in his view, will be “recognized” – not just in helping reduce carbon emissions, but also offering significant cost and efficiency savings. “Through electrification, we can make energy production cleaner, more robust and sustainable. Electric machines are more efficient, more capable and require less maintenance,” Zhang explained.
Cleaner system for LNG and marine applications
General Electric has a steep history in electrification, going back over 100 years and stretching across the company’s multiple business segments. For example, GE has developed electric-drive compression systems for LNG projects which provide an alternative to mechanically driven devices, powered by gas itself or other fossil fuels.
“Electrified LNG infrastructure holds the key to transforming LNG production by making it cleaner and more efficient. It helps LNG production plants to meet the stringent environmental and carbon emission standards expected,” says Richard Zhang, technology executive, GE’s Power Conversion.
Looking to the marine industry for a further example, GE’s Marine Solutions’ power take off and power take in (PTO/PTI) technology harnesses the mechanical energy of the vessel’s propulsion shaft to convert it into electrical energy.
“The shaft generator motor, installed between the engine and the propeller, can either contribute to propulsion power with onboard power generation or ‘absorb’ power from the rotation of the propeller shaft and redirect it to onboard systems. Therefore, it diminishes the need to burn fuel to power onboard systems and resulting in significant fuel savings,” he said.
Using new materials for electric components
Silicon Carbide (SiC), a synthetically produced crystalline compound of silicon and carbon, is now being used as material for electric components to help increase efficiency. SiC-based power semiconductor devices are just one possible use.
First discovered in an attempt to produce artificial diamonds, SiC shares many of its characteristics such as strength and resistance to high temperatures.
“These features, combined with electrical conductivity with 10 times faster switching and heat losses reduced by half, make the material the ideal substitute for traditional semiconductors,” according to Zhang, who thinks SiC has “the potential to completely transform the power conversion methods used today.”
Intelligent machines increase productivity
Adding intelligence to machines increases productivity and efficiency. In GE’s Brilliant Factories, it is optimizing performance by embedding sensors throughout all machines and operations. This allows them to work efficiently and intelligently with increased speed, less waste and decreased unplanned downtime.
From the shop floor to equipment performance, electrification is in expansion and while some of the benefits are already being felt, GE’s Mr Zhang underlined “the development in the industrial world must be accelerated.”