Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
for
SIEMENS Gas Turbines
VX 4.2
VX 4.3
VX 4.3A
Authors:
Guido Lipiak
Susanne Bussmann
Co-Authors:
Christopher Steinwachs
Andreas Lttenberg
Power-Gen Europe 2006
30 May 1 June 2006, Cologne, Germany
Introduction
Table of Contents
1
Introduction
........................................................................................................3
Summary
......................................................................................................20
Literature
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Introduction
Introduction
The worldwide demand for power grows faster than the world population. SIEMENS Power
Generation develops and builds combined cycle (gas and steam) power plants and power plant
components for all energy resources. SIEMENS gas turbines are renowned for their high
availability and reliability as well as high power output at low emissions.
With a lifetime expectancy of a combined cycle power station of 30 to 40 years, the gas turbine by far exceeds the design lifetime. Essential components of the SIEMENS VX4.2,
VX4.3 and VX4.3A gas turbines - especially the components of the hot gas path and rotor
are designed for an operating time of 100,000 equivalent operating hours (EOH, for short) or
3,000 starts. Well founded and realistic lifetime concepts are required to keep the costs over
the entire lifetime to a minimum.
Figure 1 SIEMENS Power Station Ambarli, Turkey, 6 x V94.2 (Source : Siemens PG)
The objective of the LTE program is to give the operators of SIEMENS VX4.2, VX4.3 and
VX4.3A gas turbines an opportunity to operate the gas turbine beyond the limited design lifetime of the gas turbine components. The LTE measures are to assure high availability, reliability and safety for another lifetime of 100,000 EOH or 3,000 starts.
Figure 2 Trend of Siemens Gas Turbine Frames with Respect to EOH (Source: Siemens PG)
The EOH a combination of fired hours and start/stop cycles and additional influencing factors like fuel composition or water/steam injection are only one criterion to estimate the life-
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A systematic and uniform course of action for cost-effective evaluation of the SIEMENS gas
turbines is required because the number of VX4.2, VX4.3, and VX4.3A machines that will
exceed 100,000 EOH in the near future increases steadily (refer to Figure 2).
The benefits of the measures derived from the SIEMENS Lifetime Extension by far outweigh
the relatively small expenditure for the LTE study.
Implementation of the LTE measures does not only significantly reduce the operating risk of
the unit, but also significantly decreases potential downtimes due to unscheduled outages or
additional maintenance activities. Significant portions of power and efficiency, which had experienced a reduction during the first 100,000 EOH due to wear and aging, can be regained.
The maintenance concept itself will not be modified; future maintenance costs can be predicted. The lower operating risk may also have a positive effect on the insurability of the machine.
The lifetime of SIEMENS gas turbines is limited, and primarily depends on the type of operating regime (base load, medium load or peak load), utilized fuel, firing temperature and ambient conditions. The gas turbine frame specific design of wear parts in the hot gas path as
well as maintenance intervals and quality play a key role.
Gas turbine components are exposed to stress caused by temperature or static and dynamic
loading like creep, low-cycle fatigue (LCF) and high-cycle fatigue (HCF), erosion, oxidation
and high temperature corrosion as well as mechanical stress and wear. The limitations for useful service life are in the majority of cases based on the load capability of the components exposed to the highest stress or temperatures. Each type of stress causes characteristic damage
which may occur individually or in a combination (refer to Figure 3).
The main components of SIEMENS gas turbines specifically the components of the hot gas
path and the rotor are designed for 100,000 EOH or 3,000 starts based on the stress they are
subjected to (refer to Table 1).
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Erosion &
Contamination
Corrosion
Fatigue
Mechan. Stress
Corrosion &
Oxidation
Creep
Exceptions are components that are refurbished earlier during scheduled maintenance outages
or because they are considered wear parts (e.g. 1st stage blades or ceramic heat shields).
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Wear is the price paid for the use of a device or a unit. The objective of maintenance therefore
is not only to recognize the wear, but to influence it and create new reserves by repairing the
components or unit (refer to DIN 31 051). Reliable operation of the gas turbine is not feasible
without inspection and potentially re-establishing these wear reserves at inspections and major
overhauls. Inspections are performed to determine the condition of the machine and to define
condition-related corrections and repairs to protect the operator against unscheduled outages,
secondary damage, and loss of operation.
Components deteriorate as a function of time and temperature (creep processes, corrosion and
oxidation) and also due to cyclic processes (high-cycle fatigue HCF, low-cycle fatigue LCF
and thermo-mechanic fatigue TMF). SIEMENS determines the inspection intervals of the
VX4.2, VX4.3 and VX4.3A gas turbines based on equivalent operating hours (EOH) of the
unit.
Maintenance inspection intervals are the basis for safe and disturbance-free unit operation.
SIEMENS gas turbines are subject to different maintenance intervals over the course of their
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MI
=
HGPI =
MO
=
LTE =
Minor Inspection
Hot Gas Path Inspection
Major Overhaul
The scope of the LTE inspection exceeds the scope of the major overhaul. The rotor must be
destacked in order to re-qualify the forged rotor components. New mechanized non-destructive examination (NDE) methods have been developed and qualified to detect critical defects
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The SIEMENS LTE program allows evaluation of gas turbine components with respect to potential remaining lifetime and is therefore the basis for subsequent LTE recommendations.
Unit-specific conditions and operator requests are taken into consideration as well. The
SIEMENS LTE program comprises the examination of each gas turbine frame and the unitspecific analysis of the individual gas turbine.
At
the
same
time,
and
upgrades
appropriate
LTE
measures
implemented by SIEMENS Field Service Personnel to extend the lifetime of the gas turbine
for another 100,000 EOH, or only for another interval.
The Component Review of a SIEMENS V94.2 gas turbine starts with selecting the components that are subject to lifetime limitation due to creep and LCF/HCF, corrosion/erosion, and
others, for example:
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Component Analysis
The lifetime limitation of individual components is determined in the scope of the "Component Analysis". Main components such as rotor disks and hollow shafts, compressor and turbine vane carriers, casings and piping, but also compressors and turbine blades are analyzed
using different numerical and analytical methods, i.e. finite element method (FEM) and fracture mechanics (FM), ASME Code and AD bulletins (refer to Figure 12).
The parts are analyzed with regard to static and dynamic loading as well as start and stop cycles (steady state / transient). The component lifetime limitations were determined taking the
calculated variables, i.e. stress cycle number for crack initiation, crack growth and creep deformation, and the long-time fleet operating experience of the gas turbine frame into account.
Crucial factors for a meaningful component analysis are the basic design data and a consolidated knowledge of boundary conditions like thermal convection and radiation, mechanical
restrains or contacts during the gas turbine operation. Selecting the appropriate analysis type
applying suitable and sufficient material data are preconditions for interpretation and validation of the computation results with the OEM fleet experience.
The determined component lifetime limitations and critical start numbers always apply for a
gas turbine frame (VX4.2/VX4.3/VX4.3A); they do not take individual deviations during op12
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Figure 11 Numerical Analysis of Turbine Rotor Disk and Turbine Exhaust Casing
Another result of the component analyses facilitated the definition of critical defect sizes as
well as location and orientation of critical defects in the component volume. This knowledge
in turn allowed the development of specific NDE processes, such as partially mechanized ultrasonic testing of the rotor wheel disks.
The partially mechanized ultrasonic test is used to check internal growth of material defects
caused by the forging process in the region of the wheel disk bores (refer to Figure 11).
It is possible to evaluate critical indications based on available calculation results. The
mechanized test technology and the digital acquisition of the ultrasonic test data allows comparison testing for potential deterioration of previous findings at any time. Recommendations
for specific repair measures or safe further operation of the affected component can be made.
Figure 12: Mechanized Ultrasonic Testing of Wheel Disk in Hub Area a) Mechanized Test System b) Test Probes and Setup
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Unit history
The history of the gas turbine plays an important role in the unit-specific evaluation. Of special importance are what inspections were already performed and what the results were, and
which components have already been replaced or repaired. Already known damage on the
unit must be disclosed.
Operating Mode
Also included in the evaluation of the lifetime limitation must be the way the machine was
operated in the past, how it is operated now, and how it is supposed to be operated in the
future. A differentiation is made between base load, intermediate load and peak load.
The power plant owner decides whether the gas turbine is to be operated for another 100,000
EOH or only for the next maintenance interval. Decisive in the evaluation of the lifetime are
also the extent of fast loading, the utilized fuel and firing temperature and the use of water or
steam injection.
The results of the gas turbine frame-specific and unit-specific analyses yield the unit-specific
LTE recommendations for lifetime extension measures.
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Examples of these modernizations and upgrades are concepts for increased compressor mass
flow, upgrade packages to extend major overhaul intervals of specific hot gas path components, emission reduction packages, e.g. improved low NOx burners and improved NOx control, as well as packages for frequent startup operation or increased firing temperatures, wet
compression or evaporation cooling for power augmentation, upgrades to minimize compressor efficiency losses utilizing improved compressor coating and advanced compressor cleaning methods. [3]
With this approach, pre-Investigations for LTE for premature wear on strategic components
can already be performed at the last MO or HGPI ahead of the intended LTE inspection.
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It also provides an opportunity to take samples and perform material analyses with respect to
creep rupture strength, low-cycle fatigue, or metallographic analyses of microsections. This
applies, for example, for taking samples from the inner casing and mixing casing on VX4.2
gas turbines.
Consequently, the results of microstructural analyses of stage 3 and stage 4 turbine blades performed in the course of the HGPI after 75,000 EOH will make it easier to estimate the potential remaining lifetime when another analysis is performed on the blades which had remained
in operation until 100,000 EOH, for LTE purposes.
If the gas turbine operator requests a quote for LTE measures, SIEMENS Service Marketing/Sales and SIEMENS Service Engineering will perform the LTE analyses jointly (refer to
Figure 14).
Based on the preceding analyses, a unit-specific recommendation is made with respect to future gas turbine operation, component life extension, repair, or replacement of the compo-
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All results are appropriately documented in the course of LTE planning and implementation.
To assure on-time delivery of replacement parts, the need of required strategic replacement
parts is discussed already after initial operator discussions, and delivery dates are coordinated
between Manufacturing and Marketing/Sales. The advantage of early LTE planning and early
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The close working relationship between the plant operator and SIEMENS Service Marketing/Sales, SIEMENS Field Service Engineering and SIEMENS Field Service Personnel assures that the appropriate analyses are performed on the individual machines and that the lifeextending measures are implemented optimally. Effective project management is required on
both sides, i.e. manufacturer's side and customer's side.
Approaching 100,000 EOH, a series of steps must be taken in preparation of lifetime extension measures. The information gained from gas turbine frame-specific experience and calculation results as well as unit-specific analyses are the basis for developing SIEMENS LTE
measures.
The first step of implementing the entire SIEMENS Lifetime Extension measures is to contact
the plant operator based on the results of the planned outage prior to the 100,000 EOH to inform him of the LTE concept and the associated implications to assure that he is aware of the
program.
Secondly, the history and operating mode of the gas turbine will be investigated via a questionnaire. Based on the input as well as fleet investigations and recalculations for certain
components, a tailor-made concept will be presented to the specific operator.
Thirdly, depending on the preparation time for the lifetime extension and the time schedule of
the operator, a minor inspection ahead of the LTE inspection will be used for a number of additional investigations in preparation of the unit-specific LTE.
Finally, depending on operators intention to use the plant short-term or over decades, the
scope of work, including modernization and upgrade measures, will be defined.
All LTE measures are performed in addition to the scope of a normal major overhaul.
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Component
Findings
Measures
1 Compressor Blades
Corrosion and
Cracks
Replacement
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Summary
Component
Findings
Measures
2 Compressor Vanes
Ultrasonic Test
Cracks on
Hooks
Replacement
3 Flame Tube/Tile
Holders
Wear
Replacement per
LTE Program
4 Burner
Corrosion/
Cracks
Replacement
5 Seal Ring
Visual Inspection
Wear
Replacement
6 Casing
Cracks
Repair
7 Turbine Blades
Sample Taking/
Metallurgical Analyses
Cracks/
Degradation
8 Inner Casing
Sample Taking /
Metallurgical Analyses
Oxidation
9 Rotor Disk
Mechanized Ultrasonic
Testing
No Findings
Re-qualification
and life extension
for 100.000 EOH
Summary
The SIEMENS LTE program provides gas turbine-specific recommendations for LTE measures based on gas turbine frame-specific analyses taking unit-specific analyses, machine history and findings into account. Besides SIEMENS LTE measures, modernization and upgrade
options are offered to allow the operator to replace components.
This approach provides a low risk, reliable and significant advantage to the plant operator.
There is also a clear advantage with respect to estimated life cycle cost as well as reliability
and availability of the plant; the lower operating risk alone may have a positive effect on the
insurability of the power plant.
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Summary
The SIEMENS LTE Program is crucial for reliable and safe operation of the SIEMENS gas
turbines for another 100,000 EOH or 3,000 starts, thereby assuring business success to the operators of SIEMENS gas turbines beyond the original design lifetime.
Literature
[1] Wrede, U.; Bohrenkmper, G.; Umlauft, R.: Lebensdauerverlngernde Manahmen an
Gasturbinen; Allianz Report 2/99.
[2] Deblon, B.; Bohrenkmper, G.: Rehabilitation and retrofitting of heavy-duty gas turbine;
Power-Gen Europe Conf., Madrid (Spanien) 17.-19.Juni 1997.
[3] Dibbert, Andreas: Neue Power fr Gasturbinen; Energiespektrum 10/2005
Biographical Information
Speaker:
Guido Lipiak
Company:
Country:
Germany
Guido Lipiak is Manager of the Mature Frame Team in Gas Turbine Field Service Engineering Mlheim, Germany. He earned his degree in mechanical engineering at the University of
Duisburg, Germany. In 1995 he joined Siemens KWU and initially worked for the gas turbine
blade technology and materials engineering departments. For damage clarification and root
cause analysis, he started working as a Fact Finding Engineer in 1996 and became Project
Manager in the Mlheim Gas Turbine Service Department in 1999 where he initiated the
SIEMENS Lifetime Extension Program in 2001.
Since 2005 Mr. Lipiak has been team manager of the Mature Frame Team for the VX4.2 and
VX4.3 Gas Turbines in Field Service Engineering. He is an expert for the fleet operating experience of the SIEMENS V64.3 Gas Turbine.
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