This article is part of a feature on solutions designed to save you money. Register and we’ll send you the list of “Top 10 ways to extend equipment life”.
Elevated temperatures take a big toll on gas turbine components. Repair enhancements can extend a part’s life by slowing its degradation and pushing out its usable service life.
Life-limiting factors for gas turbine vanes or blades include cracks, corrosion, wall thickness, and material condition. Cracks are often located at the platform or shroud, but can also occur at the blade tip, the blade airfoil, or the root.
Platform degradation can be reduced in many ways: by operating in baseload only (even though dispatch conditions may prevent that from being a practical solution), by pursuing a robust platform weld repair program, by improving the integrity of the platform coating, by undertaking TBC coating systems, or by making platform improvements.
MD&A has combined years of experience with state-of-the-art equipment to extend the service life of gas turbine components whose OEM service limit has passed or whose configuration is no longer suitable to operate. Significant savings can be realized by opting for lower-cost repaired spares instead of new parts.
Repair capabilities include:
- Advanced welding (laser, elevated temperature, and manual TIG)
- Heat treatments (with vacuum heat treat furnace)
- Metallic bond coat applied by APS or HVOF
- Ceramic top coat Thermal Barrier Coating
- Braze repair
- Film cooling
- Tip clearance material systems
- Advanced computational modeling techniques
- Advanced inspections (submerged ultrasonic, CMM, FPI, digital x-ray)
About MD&A
For over 35 years, MD&A has provided power generators around the globe with a full-service, OEM-alternative for services, parts, and repairs for gas turbines, steam turbines, and generators. Our commitment to excellence has earned customer trust for all turbine-generator needs. We focus on delivering consistent quality and value with fast response, superior communications, and innovative solutions.
MD&A is easy to work with. We provide immediate access to expert help when you need it, where you need it. Around the corner or the globe, we ensure prompt, thorough communication and follow-through. For every repair job, large or small, the speed and effectiveness of our response team is matched only by the depth and breadth of our engineering expertise.
Find out today why so many power generators use MD&A to maximize operational effectiveness. To see the full list of repair, inspection, testing, and analysis services, go to www.mdaturbines.com
To read case studies of Component Lifetime Extension Repairs that MD&A has conducted, use the following link.