Effects of Compressor Fouling and Compressor Turbine Degradation on Engine Creep Life Consumption

Abstract

The effect of engine degradation in the form of compressor fouling and compressor turbine degradation on the creep life consumption of the high-pressure (HP) turbine blades of an LM2500+ industrial gas turbine engine is investigated in this work. The degradations are flow capacity degradation and isentropic efficiency degradation. An engine model was created in Cranfield gas turbine performance and diagnostics software, pythia. Blade thermal and stress models were developed together with the Larson–Miller parameter (LMP) method for creep life analysis. The percentage decreases in creep life due to each effect were examined. For the engine considered, compressor degradation has more impact on engine creep life toward peak power operation, while HP turbine degradation has more impact on creep life at lower power levels. The results of this work will give engine operators an idea of how engine components creep life is consumed and make reasonable decisions concerning operating at part loads.