Harker, who has been associated with IGTI for more than 30 years, notes that this role is a considerable honor. He explains his responsibilities as helping ensure that IGTI services, expositions, and conferences are meeting the changing needs of the gas turbine community. Harker is likewise excited about the additional exposure the role will give him for interacting with users and manufacturers of gas turbines. Gas turbines are emerging as the machines of choice due to their highly efficient, low-emissions capability to meet the world s growing demand for electricity, explains Harker. It is vital that we at Bently Nevada Corporation continue to improve our understanding of how our monitoring systems, bearings, and engineering services can better address our customers needs with these critical machines.
Gas turbines are one type of internal combustion engine.
Although used in many applications, they are probably most familiar as the jet engines used on commercial aircraft. Industrial versions of gas turbines are used to drive pumps, compressors, generators, and other machines. Bently Nevada s long relationship with gas turbines stems from the use of the Company s monitoring systems to assess mechanical and thermodynamic condition. Harker estimates that fully one-third of Bently Nevada s business can be directly traced to gas turbines even more if the machines driven by gas turbines are included. Harker goes on to note that states such as California, with their recent power shortages, will find gas turbine power plants fueled by natural gas an efficient, environmentally friendly solution.