Steam Path Audit Fact Sheet

							GE Power Systems                                                                 Fact Sheet
Steam Path Audit (SPA) Service




                                                                                 Audit Benefits:

                                                                                 — Recover lost performance
                                                                                   by increasing turbine effi-
                                                                                   ciency and kW output
                                                                                 — Reduce fuel costs through
                                                                                   recoverable performance
                                                                                   gains and associated fuel
                                                                                   savings
                                                                                 — Avoid lengthy, unplanned
                                                                                   outages with spare parts
                                                                                   ordering recommendations
                                                                                 — Optimize O&M strategies
                                                                                   by identifying and prioritiz-
                                                                                   ing replacements/repairs,
                                                                                   recommending operating
                                                                                   interval and determining
                                                                                   most cost-effective repair
                                                                                   methods
                                                                                 — Enhance plant reliability
                                                                                   through recommendations to
                                                                                   restore turbine performance
                                                                                 — Make better repair and re-
                                                                                   placement decisions based
                                                                                   on estimated recoverable
                                                                                   and non-recoverable losses



      Improves Performance, Ensures Reliability
      The GE Steam Path Audit (SPA) helps power plant owners maintain
      the optimum performance and reliable operation of their steam turbine
      units. The audit provides customers the detailed analysis and qualified
      recommendations needed to make the most cost-effective repair and
      maintenance decisions possible during an outage. The audit identifies
      repair and replacement options to recover steam path efficiency, restore
      electrical output capacity and help assess the structural integrity of
      the machine.




                                                                                 g     GE Power Systems
                                                                                  Delivers Detailed
GE Power Systems                                                                  Assessment:
Steam Path Audit (SPA) Service                                                     — Impact of component
                                                                                     condition on turbine out-
                                                                                     put, heat rate, efficiency
                                                                                     and fuel cost
     Provides Qualified Analysis                                                   — Repair and replacement
     A team of highly trained GE experts is qualified to conduct both                recommendations
     thermal and structural evaluations and provide recommendations                — Timely closure to discuss
     based on the findings. In addition, the team identifies and quantifies          repair recommendations
     both recoverable and unrecoverable steam path efficiency losses.                and implementation
     With a proven process, the audit is customizable depending on the               options within existing
     determined outage objectives. The audit process includes:                       outage schedule
     • Thermal Evaluation                                                          — Digital photographic
       The thermal evaluation is performed with a proprietary, advanced              record of the condition
       component analysis tool – GE’s SPA2002 audit software. Built                  at each stage
       upon the physics-based, stage-by-stage analysis program used by             — Observations and specific
       the GE turbine design community, the SPA2002 software is a                    recommendations from
       calibrated, highly accurate program that helps identify the source            structural audit
       of performance degradation, quantifies loss mechanisms and                  — Graphical representation
       summarizes the cost/benefit of repair options. The results of the             of component wear
       analysis provide the critical information necessary to enable the
       steam turbine operator/owner to make technically and economically          Performance Losses:
       sound maintenance decisions.
     • Structural Evaluation                                                      Steam turbines typically suffer
       The steam path audit also closely examines the structural reliabili-       performance losses from:
       ty of the steam path components. It identifies failure mechanisms          — Steam leakage around
       through visual inspection and recommends component replace-                  buckets and nozzles
       ments and repairs. Structural repair recommendations are tailored
                                                                                  — Increased friction or
       to the planned outage duration and the expected timing of the next           surface roughness
       outage in order to help maintain the outage schedule and aid with
                                                                                  — Aerodynamic contour
       the budget and schedule planning of future outages.
                                                                                    changes
                                                                                  — Stage energy redistribution
                                                                                    due to area changes
                            Recovered Losses
                                            N-Packings - $2,452
                   Section LP-4 - $45,585                                                                     Inserted Spill Strip
                                                        Section HP - $243,454                                    Bucket Tip
      Section LP-3 - $42,799
                                                                                                                 Leakage
   Section LP-2 - $38,913
                                                                                                                 Bucket Root Leakage
   Section LP-1 - $37,944


                  Section IP - $138,740                                                            Bucket
                                                                                                   Dovetail
                                                                                                    Hole
                                                                                                    Flow
                                                                                                                   Diaphragm
                                                                                                                 Packing Leakage

      For complete product specification and ordering information, contact your
      GE Power Systems representative today, or email pes@ps.ge.com




      g             GE Power Systems

     GEA-13206A (9/03)