PECM Issue 20 2016 | Page 88

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. 88 PECM Issue 20