On-Line Combustion Turbine Reliability Monitoring System Field Evaluation Results

Abstract

This paper describes the initial application of a reliability and condition-assessment monitoring system to Carolina Power and Light’s (CP&L) Asheville Unit 3, a General Electric (GE) 7FA+ combustion turbine (CT) rated at 165 MW. The system provides a non-intrusive means of interfacing with plant control systems to obtain real-time data for transformation and display as reliability, performance, condition assessment, and life management information. The paper describes application of this monitoring platform and development of state-of-the-art condition assessment models for compressor efficiency, turbine blade-coating life, and turbine blade thermal mechanical fatigue life. The paper discusses the use of this monitoring platform and these condition assessment models to allow data related to the life and reliability of CT parts to be collected and tracked. In addition, the paper briefly discusses two other installations on Westinghouse 501F and GE 7FA+ CTs at CP&L’s Monroe and Lee stations that have been in operation for approximately six months.