EPRI applies airline industry inspection technique for industrial gas turbines
03/09/2020
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has evaluated the application of an inspection technology developed for jet aircraft engines to help operate industrial and power sector gas turbines more safely and reliably. EPRI’s evaluation focused on applying Vibrant Corporation’s process compensated resonance testing (PCRT) for hot section blades, finding that this technology can decrease the risk of turbine blade failure and extend the useful life of gas turbine components, enhancing safe operation while saving time and money.During the testing, EPRI has compiled model-specific blade frequency characteristics, including data on more than 11,000 blades, a database that continues to grow. The findings of EPRI’s research will be published in an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) journal.
PCRT is a non-destructive ultrasonic technology for qualitatively evaluating the material state, structural integrity and dimensional variations of gas turbine blades. It applies various statistical metrics and pattern recognition tools to pick out parts that differ from the rest of those being tested. Gas turbine operators use the technology to evaluate the condition of components, reduce failure risk and maximise part life for new, service-run and repaired blades. EPRI and Vibrant entered into an agreement to apply and evaluate the technology in the power plants of utilities in the USA.
“Our application and testing in diverse plants operated by utilities has demonstrated that this technology provides an enhanced understanding of component quality concerns in combination with traditional methods,” said EPRI Programme Manager Dr Robert Steele, who is overseeing this research.
Leanne Jauriqui, Vibrant’s Vice President of Technology, said: “Working with EPRI has provided Vibrant with access to the statistical baseline data we need to create an inspection tool that can effectively support operators of gas turbines. EPRI’s testing has shown that PCRT offers the power sector the enhanced capability to monitor components over the life of the turbines and understand how they age by identifying parts that are changing in unusual ways.”
The findings will be outlined in a paper, titled: ‘Process compensated resonance testing for qualifying the metallurgical aspects and manufacturing defects of turbine blades’ (# GT 2020-15268).
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