Durability Surveillance Program on the Advanced Gas Turbine GE Frame 7 F

Worldwide pressures for reduction of power generation costs force the manufacturers of gas turbines to develop highly efficient units. Recent advances in the developments of high temperature materials coupled with advanced cooling techniques allow the developments of the new generation of advanced gas turbines with firing temperatures at 2300*F, which are being presently deployed in the marketplace. In order to establish a reference point regarding the durability of these machines, EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute) has launched a program to assess the durability of this new generation of advanced gas turbines. The first gas turbine to be observed is the General Electric MS 7001 F, located at the Potomac Electric Power Co. (PEPCO) Station H in Dickerson, Md. The Durability Surveillance Program shall be performed for 3 years during peaking operation (mostly summer and winter) beginning in May 1992 and continuing till 1995. Close observation of the gas turbine operation and maintenance, extensive monitoring of turbine operational parameters, detailed recording of performance and operational parameters and expanded inspection of the hot gas path hardware are the main activities in this Durability Surveillance program. Similar test programs are planned for the Westinghouse 501 F gas turbine and the GE MS 7001 FA gas turbine. The results of these tests shall be available to EPRI member utilities and other advanced gas turbine users.