Projects : RCA Turbine Failure PowerGen W501D4
- Provided on-site supervision of disassembly
- Selected components for laboratory analysis
- Supervised metallurgical laboratory analysis (macros, micros, SEM, EDS)
- Overheating and melting of stage 1, 2, & 3 vanes
- HCF failure of stage 3 rotating blades (1st mode)
- Liquid carry-over found in natural gas fuel
- Machine had tripped due to high blade path temp spread and high exhaust temp
- Performed harmonic content analysis
- Result: missing stage 2 vane airfoils caused forced vibration of stage 3 blades near 5th harmonic of running speed; blade fundamental frequency is slightly above 5th harmonic