Reduce false trips. Eliminate water leaks. Protect turbine reliability.
Upgrade aging gas turbine flame detection systems with GE Vernova's non-optical flame detector and fiber-optic dry flame detector solutions.
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Why upgrade your flame detection system?
The ROI is reliability that pays for itself
Upgrading your gas turbine flame detection system can help reduce the risk of emergency interventions that upset operations, extend outages, and impact revenue. The impact of delayed action is reflected in fleet data that goes as far back as 2021: 157 flame-detection-related events and more than 1,500 lost operating hours.
The hidden reliability risk in aging units
As F-class units approach years 17–22 of operation, flame detection events increase and reliability becomes more important than ever. In addition to forced outages and emergency repairs, the penalty exposure tied to unplanned downtime is expensive and burdensome to overcome. Plan inspections and upgrade decisions well in advance, and align them with a long-term outage strategy to help reduce risk.
Up to $300K/year in avoided downtime
$10K–$15K/year in maintenance savings
Reduced penalty exposure
Fewer forced outages
Greater combustion safety confidence
Clarity on “Investment vs Risk” trade-off
The challenge
Traditional flame detectors
When traditional flame detectors age, they can create two major categories of reliability risk: false trips and water-cooling circuit failures. False trips can lead to unnecessary unit shutdowns, lost generation revenue, and increased operational stress. Water-cooling circuit failures can introduce the risk of cooling water leaks onto the turbine shell, potentially causing casing deformation, equipment damage, major disassembly for repair, and extended downtime. When legacy flame detectors remain in service too long, they can shift from protecting reliability to threatening it.
Options
Two reliability upgrade paths
- Option 1: Non-optical flame detector
- Option 2: Fiber-optic dry flame detector
Primary solution for F-class units with Mark* VIe controls
The non-optical flame detector is a modernized, algorithm-driven gas turbine flame detection system designed to improve detection confidence and eliminate water cooling risks. Integration with the Mark VIe turbine control system provides superior reliability for your gas turbine.
Key benefits
Reduce downtime threat
- Eliminates cooling water leak exposure
- Avoid costly casing damage and extended repairs
Confident flame loss detection
- Advanced detection logic helps reduce false trips
- Protects against equipment damage and safety events
Lower maintenance burden
- Eliminates water-cooled sensor maintenance
- Reduces recurring service costs
Best fit applications
- 6F, 7F and 9F units
- Mark VIe control systems
- Customers performing engine or controls upgrades
Controller-agnostic solution for broader fleet applications
The fiber-optic dry flame detector is a robust, plug-and-play upgrade compatible with multiple gas turbine frames and control platforms.
Key benefits
Reduce downtime risk
- Removes water-cooling circuits
- Protects against casing damage and outage escalation
Direct plug-and-play replacement
- No mechanical or controls modifications required
- Faster installation within outage windows
Controller agnostic
- Compatible with GE Vernova and third-party systems
- Ideal for legacy control platforms
Additional advantages
- Fully optical detection in hot area
- Electronics relocated to cooler zone
- Applicable for >10% hydrogen applications
- Suitable for 6B, 7E, 9E, 7F, 9F frames
Further reading
Learn more
Talk to a flame detection expert
Don’t let aging flame detection threaten your reliability
*Trademark of GE Vernova and/or its affiliates.
