Multidisciplinary Approach to Failure Analysis of Turbomachinery Components

TutorialThis tutorial session is intended to provide insights into the failure analysis approach taken by authors for various components across different types of turbomachinery, such as steam turbines, axial and centrifugal compressors and hot gas expanders. Successful failure analysis is crucial for making the right decisions to mitigate similar types of failure in the future. Whether a failure was caused by an inherent design flaw, improper operating practices or any other combination of factors, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of mechanisms that led to failure in order to be able to correctly address them

Redesign of Centrifugal Compressor Impeller by means of Scalloping

Case StudyImpellers of centrifugal compressors may experience resonance with vane passing frequencies, especially when operated away from the design conditions. Resonance can cause a serious structural damage to impeller. Complete redesign of an impeller to avoid resonance often requires major changes of the compressor stage design. This case study illustrates alternative approach to redesigning an impeller - scalloping of its coverplate and backplate. Scalloping changes impeller’s natural frequencies and allows achieving a separation margin from resonance, which is sufficient for reliable operation. At the same time, scalloping does not have a detrimental effect on impeller’s performances and allows to maintain existing configuration of compressor stage

Multidisciplinary Approach to Failure Analysis of Turbomachinery Components

TutorialThis tutorial session is intended to provide insights into the failure analysis approach taken by authors for various components across different types of turbomachinery, such as steam turbines, axial and centrifugal compressors and hot gas expanders. Successful failure analysis is crucial for making the right decisions to mitigate similar types of failure in the future. Whether a failure was caused by an inherent design flaw, improper operating practices or any other combination of factors, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of mechanisms that led to failure in order to be able to correctly address them