PR-275-09207-R01 Method and Procedure for Remaining Life Assessment of the Combustion Turbine Disks

A study of the remaining rotor life of gas turbines (or combustion turbines) used in the oil and gas industry was performed by Gas Turbine Materials Associates (GTMA). The study focused upon analytical methods of determining the remaining rotor life using a reduced data set, where not all of the operating data is known. As part of this study, a survey of oil and gas users was performed on their rotor life. An analytical model and methodology for determining the remaining rotor life was developed. This model and methodology was applied to the GE MS5002 gas turbine. By using this model for a PRCI member, the life of a rotor was safely extended for 100,000 hours beyond its design life. GTMA estimated that this PRCI member saved approximately $1,000,000 from this one application, and that repeated applications of the model for this, and other, PRCI members would save well over $10,000,000. The results of this work should also be applicable to other gas turbines, including those used by electric utilities, IPP’s, and other industrial operators.