INTERVIEW

Pratt & Whitney sees Window

of Opportunities in India
Peter Christman, Jr., president of
Pratt & Whitney Power Systems

Peter Christman, Jr. is the president of Pratt & Whitney Power

Systems, a division of the United Technologies Corporation. He is
responsible for global growth strategy, business plans and operations
for the organization’s portfolio of aero-derivative gas turbines,
aftermarket parts, repair and maintenance services, and renewable
energy products and services utilizing the Organic Rankine Cycle. “We
see great potential for Pratt & Whitney Power Systems in India and
looking forward to play an instrumental role in meeting the country’s
power generation demands with our safe, reliable and environmentally
friendly solutions,” says Christman.

Could you please elaborate about
Pratt & Whitney’s evolution as a Power
System Company?
Pratt & Whitney started its industrial gas
turbine business in 1961 and has provided
unique power solutions to users of gas
turbines worldwide since its inception.
Pratt & Whitney Power Systems (PWPS),
formerly named Turbo Power & Marine
(TP&M), entered the market with the FT4
gas turbine, transitioned to the FT8 and is
now broadening its portfolio of products
and services to include renewable energy.
PWPS has provided more than 2,000 in-
dustrial gas turbines to customers in more
than 50 countries. PWPS has developed a
world-wide network for sales and support
of its products and we are looking to ex-
pand our geographic presence to include
India as well as continue to expand our
product line in the future.
 
What fascinated the conglomerate to
venture into India?
India is in need of reliable power. Pratt &
Whitney Power Systems is a global leader
in providing safe, reliable and cost-effec-
tive power through its industrial gas tur-
bines. We can provide a solution for India’s
power shortages through our portfolio
of quickly deployable power generation
equipment. We are looking to expand into
the market in India to help your country
meet its energy demands.
The product basket of the stable
particularly for the power sector has
varied colours. Will we be able to
see full range of Pratt & Whitney gas
turbines in the Indian market?
Absolutely. I think both our MOBILEPAC®
and SWIFTPAC® units can be tremendously
helpful in supporting India in meeting its
energy needs in a very short time period.
We also have an array of renewable ener-
gy products through our Organic Rankine
Cycle units that India could benefit from
as well. Our customers in India will have
access to all of our products.
Please throw some light onto the
technology of the turbines Pratt &
Whitney make?
Pratt and Whitney offers two package
designs to ensure optimum output. The
MOBILEPAC gas turbine package design
includes two trailers. The first contains the
gas turbine, electric generator, exhaust
collector, diffuser and engine lube oil sys-
tem. The second trailer carries the 15 kV
switchgear, control system, operation pan-
el, protective relays, batteries and charger,
motor control center and the hydraulic
start package. Compared to a typical 21-
day installation and commissioning cycle
for the SWIFTPAC gas turbine package,
the MOBILEPAC gas turbine package can
be driven to a site and begin generating
power in less than one day.
The SWIFTPAC® gas turbine package offers
30 or 60 MW of power. Utilizing the prov-
en Pratt & Whitney Power Systems FT8®
technology, the SWIFTPAC power plant is
designed to provide quick, reliable power.
The package design includes an enclosed
driver assembly incorporating the gas gen-
erator, power turbine, exhaust collector
box, inlet plenum and lube system. These
factory-assembled modules allow the
SWIFTPAC power plant to generate power
less than 30 days after arriving on site.
What gives Pratt & Whitney an edge
over the competitors’ turbine?
The speed with which our MOBILEPAC®

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and SWIFTPAC® units can
be up, running and gen-
erating power is much
quicker than what any of
our competitors can offer.
This is true from both an
installation and operational
perspective. These products
can be installed so quickly
because most of the build-
ing of the product is done
at our manufacturing facil-
ity before they are shipped
to their destination. That
leaves less work to be com-
pleted on site.
Could you please explain
about the Organic
Rankine Cycle product
line? Will this technology
be introduced in India?
Our PureCycle® product is
able to generate smaller amounts of pow-
er (up to 280 kW) from relatively low tem-
perature heat sources. We have a broad
range of ORC products that can generate
larger amounts of power, up to 7MW, us-
ing geothermal, biomass, solar and waste
heat resources. See our ORC brochure for
specific information on these products.
If there are customers in India that are
interested in these products, we would
certainly be happy to provide them. Us-
ing the Organic Rankine Cycle products
in India will improve efficiency and can be
a solution to rural/distributed electrifica-
tion.
How does this technology help in
attaining energy efficiency?
Our ORC units are designed to capture rel-
atively low temperature waste energy and
convert it to electricity thereby improving
the efficiency of any given cycle. ORC
equipment is attractive in geothermal, bio-
mass, waste heat and solar applications.
Could you please elaborate about
any recent installations of the Pratt &
Whitney turbine?
We are presently installing our FT8 prod-
ucts around the world with particular
focus in emerging markets. Emerging
markets require operationally responsive
generation and generation assets that are
energética india MAY/JUNE10
re-deployable within electric utility grid
systems. That way as large central genera-
tion facilities are developed and brought
on-line, a redeployable aero-derivative gas
turbine unit can be repositioned to an area
of power deficiency. Our aero-derivative
products are excellent solutions for peak-
ing, mid-range and emergency or back-up
applications.
Tell us about the worldwide experience
of Pratt & Whitney? What are the
challenges it faced in various countries
to establish the brand?
We have installed more than 2,000 indus-
trial gas turbines units on six continents
and 200 ORC units on four continents so
our international experience is quite exten-
sive. It is always a challenge to introduce a
brand into a new market especially when
our competitors already have a strong
foothold in that market. But Pratt & Whit-
ney Power Systems can offer India much-
needed reliable power far more quickly
that our competitors so I think there is
certainly room for us and a need for us in
this market.
What challenges are Pratt & Whitney
anticipating in India to get the Lion’s
share in the sector?
India is a new market for us and our com-
petitors have an established presence. It
INTERVIEW
will be a challenge to be-
come a known provider of
reliable energy in an area
we have not previously
been before. But we know
our products offer conven-
ience and timeliness that
our competitors can’t so we
think there is great oppor-
tunity for Pratt & Whitney
Power Systems in India.
What is the way forward?
My trip to India is the first
step. I met with prospective
customers and I am excited
about the potential here.
United Technologies Corp.
(UTC) is an established
company here in India with
more than 100 locations
and close to 4,000 employ-
ees. We will leverage the
UTC experience as well as look for local
partnerships to localize our products for
domestic utilization. India’s natural gas
and electrical infrastructure continues to
grow and we believe the experiences we
have had in other markets around the
world will position us well in serving the
needs of customers in India.
What support do you seek from
government to ensure fast pace
growth?
The Government’s focus on electrification
of the economy is very important. It is es-
sential that grid-based power be available
100-percent of the time to 100-percent
of the economy. Providing a diversified
mix of natural gas-based generation and
renewable energy will provide the neces-
sary balance in generation mix as well as
consideration to climate change and dis-
tributed generation requirements.
Where do you see Pratt & Whitney five
years down the line in India?
I see India being a very important element
within the Pratt & Whitney Power Systems
business. The talent and capability within
the country is impressive and we look for-
ward to building our relationships within
the market to support unique power solu-
tions for the domestic market.
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