Bladon Microturbine - home
Technology

How the Bladon microturbine is built

The running cost of a generator is decided by its architecture. The Bladon microturbine has 1 moving part carried on air bearings, so there is no lubricating oil to change and no wear surface to replace, which is why the unit asks for one service visit per year against a design life of 45,000 hours. The modular combustor is what makes the fuel list open rather than fixed. The sections below set out each part of the engine.

Why the economics work

One Moving Part Is Why the Service Bill Falls

A reciprocating engine needs a service visit roughly once a month because it has hundreds of wearing parts, oil and coolant. The microturbine has one moving part on air bearings, which is why it runs a year between visits and why it will burn whatever liquid fuel is cheapest at your site. 57 patents protect that, but the patents are the reason for the saving, not the pitch.

57 Patents with more in progress

Microturbine Engine

  • Ultra-High Speed: 135,000 RPM
  • 4 patents granted, more in progress
  • Advanced high-speed motor

World Leader in Air Bearings

  • Zero wear while operating
  • 4 patents granted
  • Significantly reduces O&M and increases turbine life

Combustor

  • Future-proofed modular design
  • 99.9% efficient
  • Exceeds EU Stage V emissions limits

Heat Exchanger

  • Highly efficient & compact
  • Operates at 700°C
  • Advanced manufacturing used by F1 racing champions

Fuel Flexibility Is a Purchasing Lever

Buying the cheapest liquid fuel that reaches the site, rather than the one grade the engine will tolerate, is a direct line off the fuel bill. Bladon MTGs run diesel, kerosene, paraffin, HVO, FAME biofuel, and blends of these in any ratio without impacting performance - plus SAFs and eFUELs. Biogas, LPG, natural gas, flare gas, hydrogen, ethanol and bioethanol are in development, enabled by our modular combustor design.

DieselKeroseneParaffinHVOFAME biofuelBiogasIn developmentLPGIn developmentNatural gasIn developmentFlare gasIn developmentHydrogenIn developmentEthanolIn developmentBioethanolIn development