Assessment and Monitoring Requirements for Industrial Gas Turbine Hot Section Components

Abstract

Conventional surveillance techniques and the metallurgical assessment of components are discussed as being part of a continuum of monitoring activity. They emphasise respectively operational and maintenance durability considerations. The importance and benefits to be gained from fully utilising both techniques, particularly for the new designs of units, is illustrated by reference to the problems in a recent design of 40 MW heavy duty industrial turbine.

Degradation Assessment of Gas Turbine Hot Gas Path Components

“…The design life of these components is 72,000 hours. Their durability has an important role in controlling maintenance interval, ultimate lives and the associated through life costs for a unit [1,2]. One set of gas turbine hot gas path components was received for study.…”

“…The increased usage of gas turbines, for example in combined cycle power plant, for base load and intermediate duty power generation, has given an impetus to develop improved methods of assessing the condition and useful safe life expectancy of these components, or to increase the interval between inspections [2]. This paper discusses the degradation assessment that has been conducted on the identified hot gas path components.…”