Customized Protective Coatings Meet the
Challenge of Extending Service Life for
Rotating Equipment
A
chieving an acceptable
Long-term reliability is a common goal for
From there, the sources of degradation can
service life without
all plant operators, achieving it requires
be classified and specific coating systems
excessive maintenance can
a considered approach that takes into
can be used to increase efficiencies,
be a challenge for rotating
account a range of contributory factors
lengthen the interval between scheduled
equipment that is used in the processing
and makes use of the most appropriate
maintenance and reduce the occurrence of
and delivery of hydrocarbon products.
technology and manpower available
unscheduled maintenance events.
Thanks to the latest surface coating
to them. Rotating equipment that is in
technologies however it is possible to offer
direct contact with the process media and
Gas turbines example
massive improvements to the expected
under constant attack, presents a major
The flow path of air and fuel through a
service life of compressors, turbines
challenge; it is possible however to reduce
gas turbine presents a number of different
and pumps that are subject to surface
degradation to a minimum by selecting
conditions that can have an adverse
oxidation, corrosion, erosion and heat
the correct coating system.
effect on the performance of the turbine.
damage.
The combination of heat, microscopic
Generally, turbines, compressors and
abrasives and a gradually increasing
Travis Cockrell, Component
pumps, are all subject to a variety of
concentration of corrosive elements
Superintendent of the Coating
environmental conditions that contribute
can cause significant damage to a once
Department at Sulzer's Houston Service
to corrosion, erosion, fouling and various
smooth airfoil surface. As the surface finish
Center, looks at some surface protection
temperature related issues. The first step is
slowly degrades, the efficiency of both the
processes and technologies that are now
to understand the operating environment
compressor and turbine is reduced.
being used to increase the durability of
of the machinery.
rotating equipment used in demanding
operating environments.
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PECM Issue 20