KWU knew that within the rapidly changing computer market a particular computer may be the quickest available one month, yet may be overtaken by a competitor system the following month. The company therefore decided to collect new benchmark data before it made a purchasing decision. After considering all the options it was clear that no other system could offer performance that was better than the SGI Origin server at the price the company wished to pay. It was a straightforward decision and in May 1999 KWU installed a new SGI Origin 2000 server. The new system also offers more ease of use because it has the capability to optimise memory to suit different application needs.
Absolute reliability is of course standard.
Gas turbines Gas turbine power plants work by pulling in fresh air, compressing it and passing it through a chamber where it is combusted with fuel such as natural gas, coal gas or fuel oil. The resulting hot gas enters the turbine at a temperature greater than 1300 C, imparting most of its energy via the turbine blading to the compressor and the generator. Combined-cycle turbines use the exhaust gas leaving the turbine to generate steam to drive a steam turbine as well. Gas turbines are used to generate electricity in a variety of applications, for base load duty, as peak-load machines and in combination with steam power plants. They can be installed and started up in stages to adapt to increasing power demands and to minimise capital investments.