Life Assessment

MD&A offers a comprehensive array of engineering services which determine the remaining life of components and the root cause of failures in power plant machinery. We provide written evaluations and offer solutions that correct the underlying problem instead of merely providing a superficial repair. Our services thereby reduce the need for continual rework and eliminate or reduce recurring maintenance costs.

MD&A evaluates the existing start-up, load change, operation and shut down procedures. We then make recommendations to modify these procedures as necessary, based on expected future operations and the current conditions of the components being evaluated.

An abbreviated list of Life Assessment Services offered by MD&A includes:

• Finite element analysis
• Evaluation of the current condition of your plant and steam cycle components
• Determining the effect of increasing temperatures and pressures on components
• Assessing the effects of higher output on the overall plant and component life
• Quantifying the severity of transients resulting from start-ups
• Determining the number of starts and shutdown cycles before repairs most likely will be required
• Steam temperature ramp rate optimization
• Recommendations for more efficient load change rates as compared to OEM S&L chart
• Evaluation of the severity of creep in turbine casings and other components
• Determining the operating limits for startup transients
• Quantifying the effects of operating history on component life
• Assessment of defective components
• Calculating crack growth rates for stationary turbine components
• Evaluating stress data, material properties and NDE defect information

For more information on Life Assessment Services offered by MD&A, please contact Dave Rasmussen, President of Turbine Consultants (A Division of MD&A) at (314) 880-3000.