GORE® Turbine Filters introducing new Z-Panel Filter at PowerGen Europe 2010

Putzbrunn, Germany, May, 2010 – W. L. Gore & Associates, a worldwide leader in filtration technology, has introduced a new series of high efficiency air intake filters for use in gas powered turbines. The new GORE® Z-panel filter provides E12 (formerly H12) efficiency and adds to Gore’s existing range of membrane based filter panels and cartridges. The waterproof filters provide high efficiency, submicron air filtration and prevent virtually all dirt, salts, and other contaminants from entering the turbine mechanism. This eliminates compressor fouling resulting in higher power generation and significantly reduced engine wear. It also eliminates the need for compressor washing.

Gore’s new Z-panel filter will be showcased for the first time at the 2010 PowerGen Europe show in Amsterdam (hall 7, booth S2) among a variety of other GORE® Turbine Filters all of which not only increase power output, but also reduce costs and time associated with turbine shutdowns for cleaning and maintenance.

"The multilayer HEPA filtration media engineered into a unique Z-shape design allows this new panel filter to operate with only a single prefilter stage. It offers less than half the pressure drop compared to conventional micro fiberglass V-panel filter systems, but without sacrificing filter life", explains Torsten Herrmann, Product Specialist with Gore’s filtration business. "The product’s unique design and high efficiency membrane filtration, results in nearly total elimination of particulates and corrosive salts entering the gas turbine."

When particles and corrosive salts enter a turbine system, they can result in blocked cooling ports, compressor fouling and blade corrosion. This reduces the system’s performance and requires costly maintenance and repairs. GORE® Turbine Filters offer the lowest operating cost at maximum turbine reliability and availability. Benefits include increased fuel efficiency, continuous high power output, decreased wear, extended lifetime of turbine parts and a complete elimination of the need for compressor washings.

The technology behind GORE® Turbine Filters is the result of several years of development and testing in commercial sites in Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. It is based on a proprietary expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane. This microporous membrane permits high airflow while filtering out harmful contaminants and providing complete waterproof protection. GORE® Turbine Filters are available in HEPA (E12) cartridge and panel forms, allowing for simple one-to-one replacement of existing filters without the need for filter house modifications.

GORE® Turbine Filters represent the latest addition to Gore’s extensive line of market-leading filtration products. GORE® Filtration Products provide optimum performance for the oil & gas, chemicals, metals, minerals and energy industries in the form of low pressure drop, near zero emissions, and consistent flow rates. For more information call Gore at +49 89 4612-2211 or visit our website at www.gore.com/turbinefilters

About W. L. Gore & Associates

Perhaps best known for its consumer products like GORE-TEX® fabric and ELIXIR® Strings, W. L. Gore & Associates is a leading manufacturer of thousands of advanced technology products for the electronics, industrial, fabrics and medical markets. With $2.5 billion in annual sales, the company is headquartered in Newark, Delaware and employs more than 9,000 associates in 30 countries throughout the world. Gore is one of only three companies to appear on all of the U.S. "100 Best Companies to Work For" lists since the rankings were introduced in 1984.

Contact Europe:

Mirco L. Bülow
W. L. Gore & Associates GmbH
Wernher-von-Braun Strasse 18
85639 Putzbrunn, Germany
+49 89 4612-2257
mbuelow@wlgore.com

Contact USA:

Bob Rodriguez
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
101 Lewisville Road
Elkton, MD 21921, USA
+1.410.506.3214
brodrigu@wlgore.com