Evaluation and Upgrades

Field Services

Improve the Efficiency of Your Steam Unit

Steam Path Audit and Evaluation

A steam path audit is a performance cost/benefit assessment service that will offer an understanding of the condition of your steam blade path from a maintenance and performance standpoint. Evaluations often indicate that relatively modest modifications or maintenance to existing steam turbines can yield an attractive economic return and should merit management consideration.

Steam path audits are designed to isolate the areas of inefficiency in the turbine so that improvements can be made, restoring lost efficiency and ultimately impacting the plant’s bottom line by:

Reducing fuel costs
Recovering lost output
Identifying parts needs in advance of outages
Providing performance improvement upgrade recommendations

Upgrade Opportunities

Upgrades are frequently considered in industrial facilities containing older steam turbine generators and/or mechanical drive units. Upgrades also merit consideration in facilities where process changes are anticipated that can adversely affect the optimum performance of installed turbine equipment.

Efficiency Enhancement
Up-rates
De-rates
Reliability Upgrades and Life Extension Programs
Control and Monitoring System Upgrades

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Mr. Turbine Tips

Oil Temperature Guidelines

Oil within the lube oil tank should be at a minimum of 130 degrees F.
Oil to the bearings should be kept at 115 degrees F (out of the lube oil coolers).
Satisfactory bearing outlet temperature (bearing oil drain) should be about 140 degrees F. Higher drain temperatures are allowable on larger units. When oil drain temperatures reach a high value such as 160 degrees, the unit needs to be closely monitored for potential bearing damage. Bearing metal temperature devices installed within the babbitt of the bearing provide a better means of monitoring the actual bearing performance.