How to receive a NO COST Steam Path Assessment
Outage Season is upon us! It is that time of year, and steam turbine owners are anxiously awaiting the results of their steam path component assessment. Historical reports and current operating condition of the unit can provide turbine owners and operators with a hint of what may be going on inside the machine and what to expect, but it is ultimately a wait and see approach to know exactly what your final outage budget and timeline will consist of. Steam turbine owners and operators can make preparations in advance of the outage to mitigate the impact of the unplanned repairs, but ultimately it is an assess and react situation.
The outage preparation process is a key factor in determining the overall success of your project. Lack of a plan is a plan to fail. When preparing for the unplanned it is important to know the history of the unit and the type of repairs that have occurred over and over again during previous outages. If you know that you’ve had major repairs performed on the last stage buckets or blades during previous outages, you should have a contingency plan in place in the event those components need to be repaired or replaced during the upcoming inspection. The same theory holds true for previous repairs on the other components such as diaphragms and rotors. Budget accordingly, and get to know how certain repairs will affect your outage schedule. Make contingency plans to know where you can have certain parts manufactured on short notice, or who can perform a quality repair quickly, and at a reasonable price. If you have contingency plans in place prior to your outage you can prevent overspending for a particular repair, or making a quick decision that could lead you down a path of continuous outage extensions. Having the right contingency plans in place before the outage could save you a considerable amount of money, as well as precious operating days.
That being said, there’s always a chance you run into something you have not seen before. I’m sure with each outage there has been a new experience learned or a new repair needed that was not in the budget or plan. Having the right people around you to lean on when the correct decisions are needed is extremely important. Ensure you have a circle of people and companies you can trust to provide you with an unbiased assessment of the current situation or repair you are facing.
So this outage season, if you find yourself looking for a first, second, or third opinion on the condition of your steam path components we would be honored to be one of your trusted advisers to help you through that situation. We are proud to be one of the few turbine service and repair providers that are truly independent of the OEMs, with no ownership affiliation. If you are looking for that unbiased opinion to compare the results you received from your OEM or OEM affiliated service provider, please do not hesitate to contact us. We provide NO COST steam path assessments from our trained repair personnel and typically can be on-site within 24 – 48 hours. We’ll even begin mobilizing before the unit is disassembled to ensure you receive a quality steam path assessment as quickly as possible. We will provide you with an unbiased opinion of what repairs should be performed, and what you should expect to pay for those repairs. We understand that you may not have the time or budget for the repairs being recommended for your steam turbine – we will let you know what should be done now, and if there is potential to address the repairs during a future outage. We can be your trusted source for information during your next steam turbine outage.
We hope everyone has a safe, on-time, on-budget, and overall successful outage season!
If you would like a NO COST steam path assessment for your steam turbine project please provide your information in the below form.