THE ENGINE THAT COULD

By Staff
Published on May 1, 1985

The ‘Belle Isle’ Turbine, the first gas turbine engine
used for electrical generation in the United States, was designated
a National Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) on November 8, 1984 during a
ceremony in Schenectady, N.Y.

The engine was installed in 1949 by the Oklahoma Gas and
Electric Company, and was in service until 1980. It was removed by
General Electric Co. for permanent installation at their
Schenectady, New York plant in 1982.

ASME President George Kotnick presented George Cox, vice
president of General Electric Company and manager, Turbine Business
groups with a bronze plaque citing the technical highlights of the
turbine.

Clearly, the generation of electric power is by far the most
important application of the gas turbine in the United States,’
Mr. Kotnick said. ‘The Belle Isle engine represents the
transformation of the early aircraft gas turbinein which the
engines seldom ran more than ten hours at a stretchinto a
long-life, reliable, electric utility prime mover,’ he said.
‘The low-cost, trouble-free service led to wide scale adoption
of the gas turbine for electrical generation.’

Over 45 million kilowatts of gas turbine-produced generating
capacity were installed during the ten-year period from 1966 to
1976.

Although research in varied gas turbine applications began in
the 1930’s, before 1949, the turbine was used primarily in
aircraft.

During World War II aircraft turbine development for the Allied
Forces increased, while other investigations were postponed. At the
dose of the war the General Electric Company picked up where it had
left off, and the result was the first gas turbine developed for
commercial utility use.

The Belle Isle Turbine is the 73rd National Historic Mechanical
to be recognized by the ASME. The ASME landmarks program designates
regional, national and international landmarks, each representing a
progressive step in the evolution of mechanical engineering. Each
is judged by its influence on society and whether it is of
significance in its immediate locale, in the country, or throughout
the world. To date nearly 100 such landmarks have been designated
in 28 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, England and France.

It is the 7th Landmark in the state of New York, and the second
developed by the G.E. Company. Others included are the 5,000 kw
Curtis Steam Turbine (1903), G.E., Schenectady; Corning Ribbon
machine (1926), in Corning; New York City Subway (1904) and the
Holland Tunnel (1927). For a copy of the brochure about the Belle
Isle Turbine or photos, please contact ASME, Public Information
Dept., 345 East 47th Street, New York, NY 10017 or call
212-705-7740.

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