A Methodology and Case Study of Outboard Traverse Flame Detection on Aeroderivative Gas Turbines

Outboard-traverse flame migration in an annular profile, combustion gas pathway of a Siemens aero-derivative turbine engine can be detected with a dual immersion thermocouple. This solution is applicable for Oil & Gas operators using gas turbines fueled by natural gas. The typical flame profile within the annular combustion gas flow path is disturbed by introducing poor quality fuel into the engine. The skewed or outward bias flame profile in turn causes severe overheating of the hot section components around the outer radius of the annular combustor exit wall covering a number of hot section components. This ultimately causes accelerated components deterioration and failure to meet its target design life. Consequently, resulting in rejection of these components and increasing the life cycle cost of their asset operations. The introduction of the dual immersion thermocouple allow us to detect outward bias flame pattern using the exhaust gas temperature profile during operation and warn the operator of this condition via software alarm and trip provision. By implementing a means of detecting outward bias flame patterns, the operator will be made aware of this condition and can then take means to resolve this matter by first, allowing to optimize hot section components boundary limits and saving overhaul costs and second, avoid unplanned maintenance outages due to hot section premature failures.