Frarendi Raises Industry Awareness on the Importance of Metallurgically- Sound Repairs of Land-Based Gas Turbines
06 February 2008 10:08
Frarendi, a combustion service hardware innovator, urges gas turbine operators to proactively schedule repairs of first-stage nozzle trailing edges in 2008. Preventative maintenance measures that are metallurgically–sound are critical to maximizing investments in equipment and ensuring efficient, reliable operations.
"As global power demand grows, more gas turbines are introduced into the marketplace," said Kevin Davis, president of Frarendi. "At the same time, higher demands are placed on existing turbines, creating an influx of damaged and eroded turbine parts that are in need of quick and long-lasting repair. Unfortunately, not all repair processes are effective. It is important that any repairs take into consideration the metallurgic properties of the original parts."
In response to acute damage as well as scheduled maintenance of eroded parts, gas turbine owners and operators have traditionally chosen two popular options to repair first-stage nozzles: use a weld approach to fix the vane cracks and fill-in missing material, or replace the entire nozzle. While welding can be a quick and effective approach to simple repairs, it lacks predictable sustainability and ultimately results in a weaker nozzle—primarily due to the incompatibility in the metallurgy.
When the strength of a nozzle is degraded, it increases the probability of more frequent repairs and more downtime for the turbine, which can be catastrophic during a time of energy crisis. Conversely, replacing the entire nozzle will, in essence, reset the nozzle’s lifespan but it is a very expensive and often unnecessary investment.
As an alternative to these temporary and costly options, Frarendi has researched and developed a replacement coupon that repairs first-stage nozzle trailing edges to their original structural integrity and high performance levels. The Frarendi replacement coupon is a quick, inexpensive and metallurgically-sound alternative to traditional forms of nozzle repair. Frarendi’s replacement coupons are made from the same FSX-414 metallurgical alloy and include the same precision EDM holes as the original parts.
Frarendi supplies replacement trailing edge coupons to service and repair shops so they can quickly remove and replace the eroded sections of first-stage nozzles, while maintaining the structural integrity of the original parts, saving significant time and money. Each metallurgically compatible coupon is customized to fit a variety of trailing edge nozzle configurations for Frame 3; Frame 5; Frame 6B; Frame 7B; Frame 7E; Frame 7F/7FA; and Frame 9E.
As the land-based gas turbine industry has evolved, repairing key nozzle components has become a highly complex process built on precision engineering. Cost effective, long-lasting and reliable repairs are crucial to the efficiency of gas turbines and the power generation industry. Frarendi replacement coupons provide an integral solution for gas turbine owners and operators who have struggled to find an affordable, metallurgically-sound repair alternative to temporary welds and high-cost total nozzle replacement.
For more information on this company:
Frarendi - Replacement Trailing Edge Coupons
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