Baker Hughes Unveils Flame Detection Solution to Monitor Gas Turbine Combustors

Baker Hughes launched an advanced flame-detection technology to prevent damage, hazards, or explosions within gas turbines: Flame Tracker Increased Low Gain (ILG). It uses improved electronics to enable flame detection in low-light thresholds, so it detects flames accurately in less than 0.025 seconds. This includes low-light conditions like obscured sight tubes, condensation, fouled lenses, and other light-inhibiting factors. Part of the Reuter-Stokes product portfolio, the Flame Tracker ILG is more responsive and reliable than its predecessor and can detect combustor-section flames in turbines firing hydrogen blends.

“This is an exciting breakthrough in flame sensor innovation,” said Sara Kuczek, Vice President of Reuter-Stokes, a Baker Hughes business. “The introduction of the Flame Tracker ILG is set to improve accuracy, reliability and reduce downtime, optimizing performance for power generating turbines globally.”

Like other flame sensors, the new model is intended to ensure safe combustion and overall gas turbine operation by identifying lost or unstable flames. Upon positive detection, Flame Tracker ILG triggers a shutdown command that:

• Prevents turbine damage
• Minimizes hazards
• Removes explosion risks due to unburned fuel accumulation

Flame Tracker ILG; image credit: Baker Hughes

Baker Hughes’ updated safety-oriented technology supports the role of fuel flexibility in the energy transition. As natural gas-hydrogen blends become more common to provide secure and low-emissions power generation, the Flame Tracker ILG will ensure safe operation and prevent unexpected damage to gas turbines. The new system was developed at Baker Hughes’ Reuter-Stokes facility in Twinsburg, OH.

In November 2024, Baker Hughes unveiled the XMO2pro, a new oxygen analyzer designed to provide increased stability, accuracy, and reliability. The analyzer is designed for resiliency in hazardous locations and accurately measures 0.01%—100% of oxygen concentrations in gases. It does not contain moving parts and leverages paramagnetic technology to deliver quick, reliable, and precise detection of oxygen concentrations.

The XMO2pro requires minimal calibration and allows customers to reduce the total cost of oxygen analyzer ownership. Baker Hughes’ design is Safety Integrity Level certified and features a built-in display, making it a compact, ideal solution for tight spaces. It is also Modbus-enabled, streamlining the monitoring process and offering advanced connectivity across customer networks.

And in June 2024, the company released more gas, flow, and moisture detection and monitoring technologies: the XMTCpro, HygroPro XP, and T5MAX Transducer. These technologies maintain reliability, durability, greater accuracy for critical measurements, and long-term stability in harsh operating conditions. The sensors are designed to improve safety and productivity in hydrogen and other energy applications.

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In early April 2025, under an enterprise agreement, Sinochem contracted Baker Hughes to install its Cordant Asset Health digital solution at 10 chemical production facilities in China. This provides Sinochem’s diagnostics teams with centralized rotating equipment data to minimize unplanned downtime, proactively identify failures, and reduce portfolio production losses. With data organized in the cloud, Cordant Asset Health will improve overall visibility and collaboration.

Sinochem will leverage unified turbomachinery data to develop and scale best practices, apply operational learnings, enhance asset performance, and establish efficiencies at the highest organizational level. This agreement represents Baker Hughes’ first high-level Cordant deployment in China and aligns with the company’s goal to expand into the chemical and industrial markets.