ETN takes the initiative on gas turbine life assessment and extension

ETN Global has launched the Gas Turbine Life Assessment and Extension Working Group. This initiative aims to tackle the challenges associated with extending the life of gas turbines, with a specific focus on critical parts such as hot gas path components, rotors, and compressors. ETN describes the initiative as “aligned with sustainability goals, promoting the utilisation of existing parts and reducing operational costs, while also contributing to the conservation of precious materials.”

Traditionally, gas turbine components are designed with a nominal design life as determined by the original equipment manufacturer. However, advancements in technology and operational practices have provided operators with an opportunity to extend the useful life of these components beyond their initial recommended limits.

ETN Global’s Gas Turbine Life Assessment and Extension initiative seeks to explore the feasibility of extending the life of these components and developing effective strategies to manage the associated risks.

The Working Group has identified several key initiatives that will be addressed, each dedicated to specific aspects of gas turbine life assessment and extension:

Enhancing confidence in life prediction: This initiative focuses on employing advanced non-destructive inspection techniques to improve confidence in predicting the remaining life of critical parts under cyclic duties.

Rotor and disc lifing: By developing an engineering platform and utilising non-destructive inspections, this initiative aims to estimate the time to initiate creep and fatigue cracks in rotors and discs, enabling informed decisions regarding their life extension.

Compressor integrity and reliability: This initiative seeks to develop comprehensive inspection and risk assessment methods to address the integrity and reliability of compressor parts, minimising the risk of unplanned outages and enhancing overall compressor performance.

Dr Siavash Pahlavanyali, RINA Consulting, is the chairman of the new working group. He emphasises the importance of collaboration and “invites owners, operators, and service providers to join forces and contribute to these critical engineering analyses. By working together, we can expand our knowledge, effectively manage risks, and extend the useful life of gas turbine components.”

ETN Global says the new initiative offers a valuable opportunity to overcome significant challenges “by working towards finding solutions associated with gas turbine life assessment in the face of evolving fuel options and increased cyclic operations.”

For more information: https://etn.global/research-innovation/working-groups/gt-life-assessment-and-extension-wg/
Email: Rene Vijgen, ETN Senior Technical Manager, rv@etn.global

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