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Damage to a Steam Turbine in a Paper Mill

An electric power-generating steam turbine in a southern United States paper mill suffered damage during an unusual period of freezing weather. APTECH was retained to determine the cause of the damage. From our site inspection, records review, and personnel interviews, we determined that the sub-freezing temperature caused a boiler water level-control system to malfunction, which led to overfilling of the boiler. Water from the boiler eventually entered the turbine and damaged the rotor blades. After identifying this failure mode, we then reviewed the turbine manufacturer's repair proposal.

Satish Almaula		Plant failure and root cause analysis; process and design engineering analysis; process technology development and testing; plant engineering, operations, maintenance and safety management; plant and process control system management.

Kimble Clark, Ph.D.		Failure analysis, heat transfer & thermodynamics, process plant equipment failures & explosions, fuel science, combustion, industrial fires and explosions.

Michael Cronin, P.E.		Stress analysis, design evaluation, engineering mechanics

Eric Sullivan, P.E.		Metallurgy, welding, failure analysis, fire and explosion investigations, equipment, piping.

Thomas Burnet		Steam turbine operation and maintenance, utility boiler operation, maintenance and troubleshooting