ISSN: 1945-7553
Page Count: 8

Bore Inspection and Life Evaluation of Vintage Steam Turbine/Generator Rotors

Jhansale, HR
A-C Equipment Services Corporation, West Allis,WI

McCann, DR
A-C Equipment Services Corporation, West Allis,WI

Abstract

This paper describes the approach and methodology used for bore inspection and life evaluation/extension of vintage steam turbine spindles and generator rotors for continued service. The non-destructive inspections, including visual, magnetic particle, and ultrasonic, together with flaw sizing procedures, are described. Life evaluation and extension approaches include conventional and finite element stress and thermal analyses, state-of-the-art material evaluation studies, and fatigue, creep, and fracture mechanics based techniques. Based on the experience of these ongoing studies on over 250 spindles and rotors (manufactured by Allis-Chalmers, General Electric, and Westinghouse), two essential recommendations are made. Firstly, it is best to evaluate each vintage spindle/rotor on a case-by-case basis instead of a historical and generic basis. Secondly, most of the vintage spindles/rotors can continue to be used safely and with a high degree of reliability with proper periodic inspections and evaluations and life extension measures as needed.

Keywords:
steam turbine spindles, generator rotors, nondestructive inspections, life evaluation, life extension, rotor forgings

Paper ID: JTE12514J
DOI: 10.1520/JTE12514J
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