Gespi to generate energy from 707 turbine
Valor Econômico
The Brazilian GespiAeronáutica, specialized in the maintenance and repair of industrial and aeronautical turbines, is developing a pioneer project of conversion of a large aeronautical engine into an aviation turbine for the generation of electricity. The new turbine, undergoing tests, was designed to use alternative fuels such as ethanol. The engine used for the conversion equips the 707 Boeing that is being deactivated and it can be easily found on the market at scrap prices.
The main advantage of the new development, according to the technical manager in charge of the project, Genival Sena de Jesus, is the cost, which represents less than 50% of the price of a new imported turbine at the same power range. Another advantage, according to the Manager, is the fact that all maintenance and servicing of the equipment can be performed in Brazil. "The project of Gespi is also interesting for companies willing to generate their own energy that lack resources to buy imported turbo generators", emphasizes the Manager. In general, according to Jesus, those pieces of equipment are expensive and their maintenance cost is very high.
Gespi invested nearly R$ 2 million (US$ 1.18 million) in own resources in the project of the new turbine, which will be able to generate 15 megawatts (MW), enough to supply energy to 15 thousand low-consumption households, says the project manager. Another special feature of Gespi in the project is that the company has developed its own test bench for large turbines. According to Jesus, this type of equipment is very expensive and it involves high technological content. The turbine has already been tested with diesel, ethanol, and it is now being prepared to run on natural gas. The company expects the Gespi turbo generator to be available for sale within a year.
Jesus says there are currently more than one thousand turbines of the model used by Gespi to undergo the conversion. "Should it be necessary to manufacture new turbines, it will not be necessary to resort to the original manufacturer, because the experience Gespi has in the maintenance of such equipment qualified the company to develop the reverse-engineering and manufacture the product in Brazil". The use of those engines, according to him, will also contribute to reducing the aeronautical trash exposed to the environment, which is considered difficult to be recycled.