Gas turbine hot section parts are high-value components which have finite lives. Their durability has an important role in controlling maintenance intervals and the associated costs. This paper reviews the sources of degradation in some components, the technology available to quantify the damage, and publicly available assessment procedures which can be used for component life assessment.
The row 1 blade from a heavy industrial gas turbine has been examined after ∼21,000 fired hours to assess the level and nature of the damage originating from the cooling holes. This consisted primarily of creep cracking/voiding coupled with deep internal oxidation/nitridation.
The difficulties the manufacturer had in addressing the problem are discussed within the context of component assessment methodologies and the ‘new’ technologies which are being incorporatd into new unit types, but for which little service experience has yet been generated.
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