Run, repair or replace decision support for gas turbine components

An effective life management strategy for gas turbines should include a procedure for condition and remaining life assessment of critical components. These need to be assessed in relation to the associated life-limiting factors in order to make decisions on whether to run, repair or replace the components.

TWI provides an independent service to assist operators in making these decisions and thereby often reap substantial cost savings.

Life and performance limiting factors addressed include:

Creep and creep-fatigue
Thermal fatigue and thermomechanical fatigue
Low cycle fatigue and high cycle fatigue
Corrosion, oxidation and degradation of coatings
Erosion and fouling

The remaining life assessment procedure concentrates on components for which failures are identified as having major safety, availability or maintenance cost implications. It includes an initial condition assessment and evaluation of historical operating and maintenance regimes to identify critical components. Their failure modes and failure consequences in relation to their impact on downtime and replacement costs are also assessed.

A phased approach is adopted where possible involving an initial assessment based on component family design and overall service data. This is followed by an increasingly more detailed assessment of individual components as the remaining life margin is reduced. Decisions on whether to continue to operate, to repair or rejuvenate, or to replace can accordingly be made and progressively refined.

For more information, please contact us: power@twi.co.uk