Engineering Consultancy Services

Gas Turbine Consultancy

An effective approach to plant life management
Operators need to optimise the returns from their gas turbine plant. A key element is the
maintenance activities on the gas turbines which involve significant costs that can have a marked
effect on the overall profitability of the plant. Decisions taken to meet immediate requirements
may have a detrimental effect on longer-term issues. ERA Technology can work with companies
to assess the key technical issues behind these financial decisions, and develop a more effective
gas turbine management strategy.
The range of work carried out has included:

life assessment and extension evaluations to increase the useful life of the gas
turbine components
maintainability and repair issues to minimise premature replacement, thereby reducing costs
field performance (durability) and its effect on maintenance strategy
long term technical support and advice to plant operators
recommendations from root cause failure analysis to minimise the chance of repeat occurences
risk assessment of extended plant operating intervals.

ERA's services are tailored to meet the individual requirements of different gas turbine operators
and owners.
condition and integrity
assessments
Whilst all gas turbine components have
finite lives, it is usually in the interest of the
operator to maximise their safe useful life.
ERA has developed procedures to assess
component condition and integrity and the
effect of refurbishment on properties and
life expectations based on:
a destructive assessment approach
quantitative condition determination
service history and field experience
identification of areas causing
a shortfall in life
options and recommendations
to address these issues.

procurement support, repair, life extension and

component remanufacture
One of the major maintenance costs is that of replacing or repairing hot section components.
ERA can work with the operator to advise, review and critically monitor these activities by:

acting as the operator's technical representative in discussing and monitoring repair or reverse
engineering activities at third party repair companies
critically assessing repair options and procedures, including coating selection
reviewing or compiling remanufacture or repair specifications (coatings and components).

failure analysis
ERA's service is founded on the importance of fully
identifying and understanding the failure process so that
appropriate actions can be taken to prevent its re-occurrence.
To achieve this ERA can bring together its knowledge
of materials, components, design, and operation and
maintenance to conduct a thorough forensic investigation.
This analysis can be used to support litigation or arbitration by
producing reports and independent expert witness testimony.
new technology machines
The introduction of the newer technology machines has not been without its problems for all the
OEMs. ERA has worked with several operators to monitor and assess the behaviour of such units,
and the actions of the OEMs in addressing these issues through:

reviews of design, maintainability and field experience

implications for future reliability and maintenance costs
failure analysis and the implications for the machine/component design
condition assessment of critical components.

equipment General Electric Frame 6B, 7E/EA, 9E, 9F/FA/FA te,

ERA provides independent LM 2500, LM 6000
specialist consultancy on a range
Westinghouse/MHI 501 AA, B, D5: 701 DA, F
of gas turbines and components CW191G, 251B8
ranging from 200MW heavy
industrial units through to Siemens V64.3, V84.2, V94.2, V93,
V94.3/.3A (SGT 4000F)
aero derivatives.
Alstom Model 11D, 13D2, E, E2, GT26
Rolls Royce Avon, Spey, Tyne, Olympus
Siemens Industrial Tornado (SGT 200), Typhoon
(SGT 100), Cyclone (SGT 400),
TD4000, TB5000, SGT 600(10B),
SGT 700 (10C)

training
ERA provides tailored gas turbine technology courses based on
the needs of engineers at power stations covering engineering,
materials and repair issues. The objective of the courses is to
allow engineering personnel to reach informed decisions on
durability and maintenance issues.
why ERA?
ERA's capability is based on many years' experience gained from detailed examination of different
types of gas turbines, and familiarity with materials selection, performance, life assessment and
procurement issues, supported by its extensive expertise in plant integrity. Major facilities and
resources include wellequipped laboratories and workshops as well as data and methodologies
from specific development programmes carried out with industrial funding from plant operators
and OEMs. As ERA is an independent organisation it is able to offer clients impartial advice
and recommendations. Its proven track record provides the confidence required by operators
to reduce their technical and business risks.

ERA Technology Ltd ERA Technology Ltd

Cleeve Road
Leatherhead
ERA Technology works at the leading edge of many Surrey KT22 7SA
advanced technologies. The business was founded UK
in 1920 and today provides specialist, high value-added,
Tel: +44 (0)1372 367007
technology-based services including design and
Fax: +44 (0)1372 367009
development, testing, assessment and expert advice. E-mail: info@era.co.uk
ERAs services reduce technical and commercial risk, Web: www.era.co.uk
improve the operational performance of engineering
infrastructure assets, and enhance the competitiveness Ref. ECS 01.08.08
of products and systems.
FM1303

ERA Technology is part of Cobham plc.