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Power Generation Materials, Generator Components & Turbines Failure Analysis
Failure analysis of power generation components, materials and turbines is crucial, both for safety and efficiency reasons.
Our materials and process experts can identify the root cause of failures, whether they be material or process related and suggest remedial action so they can be avoided in future.
Examples of the materials and components failure analysis work we carry out in the power generation industry includes:
- Turbine blade failure analysis, and all turbine hardware
- Coating system adhesion failure analysis on turbine blades
- Corrosion and wear-related failure analysis of seal rings in an electric utility generator
- Root cause investigation of deposit build-up on process equipment
- Trip failure analysis in electrical relays
- Failure evaluation of crevice corrosion in generator stator bar brazed joints, leak path and insulation failure investigations.
- Total power generator failure investigations
- Petrographic analysis of deteriorated concrete support systems.
Turbine and Generator Failure Investigations
The root cause of any failure needs to be found quickly and remedial actions put into place as soon as possible. We investigate the root cause of your generator, gas or steam turbine failure. Expert witness testimony is available to support insurance and litigation requirements.
Components Failure Analysis
Our failure analysis experts can analyze failures in metallic and non-metallic components, looking at problems such as wear, erosion, corrosion, fatigue, coating system failures, impact, and improper surface treatments.
Stator Bar Insulation Systems Failures
Failures in stator bar insulation systems can lead to generator failures. We'll carry out investigations of the root cause of failure, providing independent data, reliable analysis and recommended actions.
Failures in Service
Lucideon provides independent failure investigation services that include materials testing governed by the rigorous quality management system requirements of UKAS, ISO 17025, 10CFR50 Appendix B (nuclear), Nadcap (aerospace & defense), and GE S-400. Find out more about our accreditations here.
We can conduct site visits to examine the failure in its environment and provide advice on appropriate sample collection techniques and photographic documentation of evidence.
Examples of Analytical Capabilities
Analytical techniques ranging from visual inspection and photo documentation through microstructural and micro-chemical analysis are applied to investigate failures of all types.
- Specimen extraction through sectioning & wire EDM
- In-house CNC machine shop
- Chemical analysis
- Contamination and generator debris analysis and identification
- Fractography
- Metallographic preparation
- Metallurgical evaluation
- Image analysis / microscopy
- SEM-EDS / electron microprobe
- Advanced surface analysis
- Mechanical testing
- Thermal analysis
- Electrical testing
- Expert witness services.
On Demand Webinars
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Hydrogen - Diffusion, Permeability, Hydride Formation and Metallic Embrittlement - Part 2
The growing use of hydrogen in the energy industry sets in motion a myriad of metallurgical issues and problems. The metallurgical community has long been dealing with problems associated with hydrogen interaction with metals; from containment in its liquid state at cryogenic temperatures to its burning as a fuel at high temperatures and everything in between. This is part two of a two-part webinar series that addresses some of the more complex metallurgical issues related to hydrogen..
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Hydrogen - Diffusion, Permeability, Hydride Formation and Metallic Embrittlement - Part 1
The growing use of hydrogen in the energy industry sets in motion a myriad of metallurgical issues and problems. The metallurgical community has long been dealing with problems associated with hydrogen interaction with metals; from containment in its liquid state at cryogenic temperatures to its burning as a fuel at high temperatures and everything in between. This is part one of a two-part webinar series that addresses some of the more complex metallurgical issues related to hydrogen.
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Cleaning Issues with Additive Manufactured Devices
While this general topic has been covered in various webinars in the past, here we isolate several key aspects of the problem. The unique porous coated surfaces of new additively manufactured (AM) medical implants have proven to be quite complex and are creating challenges with respect to effective cleaning.