JP2009516121A - How to maintain the operating capacity of technical equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for maintaining the operating capability of an industrial turbine owned by a customer, wherein at least one part of the industrial turbine owned by the customer is installed, wherein the installed part is owned by a maintenance company and industrial After the physical removal from the industrial turbine, it will remain under the maintenance operator, and after the agreed maintenance cycle, the installed parts will be removed from the industrial turbine and the removed parts will be maintained in the maintenance business. Including providing to a person.

Description

  The present invention relates generally to a method for maintaining the operating capability of a technical facility, and more specifically to a method for maintaining the operating capability of a power generating turbine by mounting a component in place of a worn component.

  In today's modern industry, there is a need for state-of-the-art technical equipment to perform a variety of tasks. For example, the power generation industry uses high performance turbines, generators, and power transmission equipment to generate and send power.

  In order to obtain the high rotational speed, power output and efficiency of the turbine, the vanes and blades are used in particular to direct the fuel gas fuel flow as desired. Gas turbine and steam turbine vanes and blades with particularly high power ratings are subject to extreme atmospheric conditions such as high temperatures and / or other wear and stress-causing effects, and thus repair of affected vanes and blades or Regular inspection is required to determine the need for replacement.

  Due to wear of turbine bearings, turbine valves, turbine pipes and transistors, turbine combustion chamber heat shields and bricks, compressor blades, compressor bearings, compressor valves, compressor pipes, all parts located in the hot gas path of the turbine, etc. There are several other turbine components that are affected.

  The present invention provides a simple and effective way to maintain the operating capability of technical equipment owned by a customer, performed by a maintenance operator.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is the concept of obligately returning the initially installed new parts and the repair parts installed by the maintenance operator to the maintenance operator after the end of each agreed maintenance cycle. Including. The maintenance company may be, for example, the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the part. : That is,
-Mounting at least one component of the industrial turbine, provided that the mounted component is owned by the maintenance operator and physically removed from the industrial turbine and remains under the maintenance operator; ,
-After the agreed maintenance cycle, remove the installed parts from the industrial turbine and provide the removed parts to the maintenance company.

  Thus, one maintenance cycle consists of the installation of a new or repaired part by the maintenance operator as the starting point and the installation of the new or repaired part by the maintenance operator as the ending point from the customer's area. Can be defined by removal.

  The customer is completely free to select a different maintenance operator after the agreed maintenance cycle ends, but the initially installed parts are returned to the maintenance operator, so that the first installed A closed loop is formed only by the customer regarding the ownership of the parts (while the technical equipment is in operation) and the maintenance company (at the end of each agreed maintenance cycle).

This closed-loop maintenance business covers the ownership of leased contracts for parts (not just the entire industrial turbine), or new or repaired parts that are first installed after each agreed maintenance cycle. Can be part of a contract to transfer That is,
-Mounting at least one component of the industrial turbine, provided that the mounted component is separated from the industrial turbine and then returned to the maintenance company;
This is an agreement that, after an agreed maintenance cycle, the installed parts are removed from the industrial turbine, the removed parts are provided to the maintenance company, and the ownership of the parts is transferred to the maintenance company. .

  All installed parts that replace the worn parts at the beginning of each agreed maintenance cycle are available only to the maintenance operator who has these parts installed first after the maintenance cycle.

Accordingly, a further aspect of the present invention includes a computer system capable of automatic maintenance service management, the computer system comprising:
-At least one data record relating to the industrial turbine, including a data record containing technical information about the part and a further data record containing information about a maintenance contract between the customer and the maintenance operator, The maintenance contract contains information on the number of consecutive maintenance cycles agreed and their respective durations, and after the installed parts are owned by the maintenance operator and separated from the industrial turbine, the maintenance operator's A database further including a clause that remains below,
-To automatically inform the maintenance company of the appropriate inspection date derived from the maintenance contract and to automatically generate at least one equipment list containing information on the number of parts scheduled for inspection. Scheduling means, the number of parts to be manufactured by the maintenance operator prior to the appropriate inspection date, and the number of parts to be removed or received by the maintenance operator after any agreed maintenance cycle; Scheduling means derived from the number of parts scheduled for inspection;
-Input / output means for accessing the database and the scheduling means.

  An advantage of the present invention is that inventory is reduced on the customer's side based on the maintenance operator's obligation to install all necessary parts covered by the maintenance contract during all agreed maintenance cycles. It is done.

  This also significantly reduces the delivery time of the parts by allowing maintenance operators to prepare for rapid delivery based on the type of maintenance contract.

  As a further advantage to the customer, there is no time warranty gap compared to conventional maintenance contracts where the parts warranty generally ends after a predetermined period of time well before the end of the maintenance cycle.

  Also, since the maintenance company installs both the repaired parts and the new parts, the customer only has to deal with one supply interface represented by this maintenance company.

  Overall, therefore, the customer will benefit from an optimal investment over the lifetime of the technical equipment, especially when selecting a maintenance contract that will continue over a continuous maintenance cycle over the lifetime of his industrial turbine. This is mainly due to the fact that all risks associated with component failures are taken over by the maintenance operator throughout the agreed maintenance cycle.

  On the other hand, maintenance operators enjoy the benefits of a service business that is reliable and can be calculated. By contracting many maintenance contracts with many customers so that the risk is leveled out, the risk of incurring warranty obligations that cannot be overcalculated can be reduced.

  Further aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the drawings.

  The foregoing and other concepts of the present invention will now be addressed with reference to the drawings of preferred embodiments of the present invention. The illustrated embodiments are exemplary and are not intended to limit the invention. The drawings include the following figures, in which like reference numbers indicate like parts throughout the description and the drawings.

  The disclosed invention advantageously uses one or more basic concepts.

  One concept is the previously described “closed loop” concept, which is aimed at either the customer or the manufacturer owning a new or repaired part to be installed.

  This includes contracts that include the obligation to return the original installed part to the maintenance operator at the end of each agreed maintenance cycle, either by applying a lease contract in which the ownership of the part remains with the manufacturer. Achieved by applying.

  Other concepts are to provide the customer with a warranty to increase customer confidence in the maintenance contract and / or all necessary repair costs associated with the installed parts throughout each agreed maintenance cycle. And billing the customer for a flat fee including replacement costs.

  This also allows the customer to calculate a certain, for example annual total amount for the periodic maintenance costs that should be included in their business plan, thus preventing unpredictable financial risks. .

  Also, at least the first flat fee to be paid in the first agreed maintenance cycle can be significantly reduced compared to commonly known service and maintenance contracts. This is because the customer does not have to pay the full amount for the installed parts for which they are not given unlimited ownership.

  Subsequent maintenance cycles (which are preferably billed at the same flat rate as the first agreed maintenance cycle described above) and general service maintenance contracts where only defective parts are replaced with new or repaired parts Although it may be the same price or a slightly higher price, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, all parts subject to maintenance contracts (not just defective parts) are in their agreed maintenance. At the beginning of the cycle, it is replaced with a new or repaired part.

  This allows customers to keep their technical equipment at a new level, thereby contributing to their competitiveness. Thus, this aspect of the invention provides a performance guarantee to the customer as compared to a simple parts guarantee.

  Further concepts include multiple consecutive maintenance cycles that are covered by the maintenance contract so that both the customer and the maintenance operator benefit from the cost and workload that can be calculated.

  Other concepts include computer systems that allow maintenance operators to efficiently organize their service business by providing scheduling means and databases that are preferably accessible via the Internet.

  All embodiments described in more detail below include turbine vanes, turbine blades, turbine bearings, turbine valves, turbine pipes, combustion chamber heat shields, compressor blades, compressor bearings, compressor valves, compressor pipes, and turbine gas paths. It is advantageously applied to service and maintenance contracts covering parts in industrial turbines for power generation, such as all turbine parts located within.

  FIG. 1 represents a flow chart showing a series of exemplary steps that can be taken to efficiently maintain the operating capability of a technical facility owned by a customer.

  In step 1, at least one new part or repaired part is mounted by the maintenance company. In this case, the ownership of the parts remains with the maintenance company.

  Thereafter, the customer's technical equipment typically adapts to continuous operation throughout the agreed maintenance cycle and refocuses that parts are subject to wear at the end of this maintenance cycle.

  Step 2 indicates the end of the aforementioned maintenance cycle. In this case, the maintenance company removes the new or repaired part (mounted in step 1) from the customer's area.

  At this time, the customer can decide whether to leave the same maintenance operator for the next maintenance cycle or select another maintenance operator.

  The concept described above can be viewed as a type of lease agreement that covers (not just) the installed parts (not the entire industrial turbine).

  FIG. 2 represents another embodiment of the present invention.

  In step 1, at least one new part or repaired part is mounted by the maintenance company. In this case, the ownership of the parts remains with the maintenance company.

  Step 2 includes an agreement that ownership of the new or repaired part will be transferred to the maintenance company at the end of the agreed maintenance cycle.

  Finally, in step 3, the installed new or repaired part is removed from the customer's area by the maintenance company after the agreed maintenance cycle.

  In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 1, ownership of the installed parts is transferred to the maintenance business only after the agreed maintenance cycle is completed.

  FIG. 3 is a further refinement of the embodiment already depicted in FIG. 1 by adding steps 3 and 4 (similar repetition of steps 1 and 2) to achieve at least two consecutive maintenances. Yes.

  FIG. 4 illustrates that by adding steps 4, 5 and 6 (actually a similar repetition of steps 1, 2 and 3) to achieve at least two successive maintenance cycles using the present invention. Further refinement of the embodiment already depicted in FIG.

  FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram including a plurality of successive maintenance cycles 10, 12 and 14.

  Each maintenance cycle begins with a main inspection of the industrial turbine. In this case, a plurality of new or repaired parts 16, 18 and 20 are mounted to replace the worn parts. Preferably, at the beginning of each maintenance cycle 10, 12 and 14, all parts exposed to wear are replaced with new or repaired parts to be installed.

  Again, the technical equipment is adapted for continuous operation until the end of the respective maintenance cycle 10, 12 or 14.

  At the end of each maintenance cycle 10, 12 and 14, the initially installed parts 16, 18 and 20 are removed from the customer's area by the maintenance operator.

  After the end of the last agreed maintenance cycle 14, the customer no longer has any parts 16, 18 and 20 that were originally installed.

  FIG. 6 schematically illustrates a computer system 30 that allows a maintenance operator to efficiently organize their service business by providing a database 32 and scheduling means 42 that are preferably accessible via the Internet.

  The database 32 includes at least one data record 34 associated with the technical equipment. In this case, the data record 34 includes technical information regarding the at least one component. This database includes a further data record 36 containing information regarding maintenance contracts between the customer and the maintenance company. In this case, the maintenance contract includes information on the number of consecutive maintenance cycles agreed and the duration of each.

  The maintenance contract further includes a clause that promises the customer to return to the maintenance operator all parts covered by the maintenance contract and installed under the maintenance contract after each agreed maintenance cycle.

  The scheduling means 42 automatically informs the maintenance company of an appropriate inspection date derived from the maintenance contract, and includes at least one device including information on the number of parts scheduled for inspection. The list 44 is automatically generated. In this case, the number of parts to be manufactured by the maintenance company prior to inspection and the number of parts to be removed by the maintenance company from the customer's area after each agreed maintenance cycle is Derived from the number of parts scheduled for.

  This enables efficient execution of the service business of the maintenance operator by using the present invention.

  In addition to the embodiments and aspects of the invention described above, those skilled in the art will recognize various other configurations and features that may be used by the principles of the invention and fall within the scope of the appended claims without being explicitly described in this document. Steps can be reached.

  For example, the ordering of the method steps is not necessarily fixed, but can be changed without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

  Also, the application of the present invention is not limited to maintaining the operational capacity of an industrial turbine, but is also beneficial in the maintenance of any other technical equipment with scheduled maintenance intervals and parts repair or replacement requirements. obtain.

2 is a flowchart of an exemplary process of the present invention showing an exemplary sequence of steps for maintaining the operational capabilities of a customer owned industrial turbine. 4 is a flowchart of another exemplary process of the present invention. 2 is a flowchart of an exemplary process of the present invention that implements at least two successive maintenance cycles. Figure 5 is a flowchart of another exemplary process of the present invention that implements at least two consecutive maintenance cycles. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating in principle the present invention including a number of successive maintenance cycles. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a computer system adapted to enable an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (22)

A method of maintaining the operating capability of an industrial turbine owned by a customer,
Install at least one part of a customer-owned industrial turbine, where the installed part is owned by the maintenance company and physically separated from the industrial turbine and remains under the maintenance company On condition that
A method comprising removing an installed part from an industrial turbine after an agreed maintenance cycle and providing the removed part to a maintenance company. At least one additional part of the industrial turbine is installed, provided that this installed additional part is owned by the maintenance company and remains under the maintenance company after being separated from the industrial turbine age,
The removal of further parts from the industrial turbine after other agreed maintenance cycles and the provision of these removed parts to the maintenance operator, thereby realizing at least two consecutive maintenance cycles The method of claim 1, further comprising:   The method of claim 1, wherein a maintenance operator provides a warranty for the part to the customer and the warranty is valid throughout the agreed maintenance cycle.   The method of claim 1, wherein the maintenance cycle is defined by the installation of a part as a starting point and the removal of the part as an end point.   The method of claim 1, wherein the maintenance operator charges the customer a flat fee that covers all the necessary repair and replacement costs for the parts that occur during the agreed maintenance cycle.   The component of claim 1, wherein the component is any one of a turbine vane, a turbine blade, a turbine bearing, a turbine valve, a turbine pipe, a combustion chamber heat shield, a compressor blade, a compressor bearing, a compressor valve, and a compressor pipe. the method of.   The method of claim 1, wherein a maintenance business operator is the original equipment manufacturer of the part.   The method of claim 1, wherein the part remains under a maintenance operator after each agreed maintenance cycle.   The method of claim 1, wherein the mounting of the component includes mounting a plurality of components, the plurality of components including any one of a turbine vane or a turbine blade.   The method of claim 9, wherein all turbine vanes or turbine blades installed in the industrial turbine are replaced with installed turbine vanes or turbine blades. A method of maintaining the operating capability of an industrial product owned by a customer,
At least one part of the industrial turbine owned by the customer is installed, provided that the installed part is physically separated from the industrial turbine and then returned to the maintenance company,
After the agreed maintenance cycle, the installed parts shall be removed from the industrial turbine, the removed parts shall be provided to the maintenance company, and the ownership of the parts shall be transferred to the maintenance company. Including. At least one additional part of the industrial turbine is installed, provided that the installed additional part is separated from the industrial turbine and then returned to the maintenance company,
After the other agreed maintenance cycle, the additional parts are removed from the industrial turbine and the removed parts are provided to the maintenance company, and the ownership of the parts is transferred to the maintenance company. The method of claim 11 further comprising: realizing at least two consecutive maintenance cycles.   The method of claim 11, wherein a maintenance operator provides a warranty for the part to the customer and the warranty is valid throughout an agreed further maintenance cycle.   The method of claim 11, wherein the maintenance cycle is defined by the installation of a part as a starting point and the removal of the part as an end point.   The method of claim 11, wherein the maintenance operator charges the customer a flat fee that covers all necessary repair and replacement costs for the part that occur during an agreed maintenance cycle.   The component is any one of a turbine vane, a turbine blade, a turbine bearing, a turbine valve, a turbine pipe, a turbine transistor, a combustion chamber heat shield, a combustion chamber brick, a compressor blade, a compressor bearing, a compressor valve, and a compressor pipe. The method of claim 11, wherein   The method of claim 11, wherein a maintenance operator is the original equipment manufacturer of the part.   The method of claim 11, wherein the part remains owned by a maintenance operator after each agreed maintenance cycle.   The method of claim 11, wherein mounting the component comprises mounting a plurality of components equal to the number of components of the same type installed in an industrial turbine. A computer system for maintaining the operating capability of an industrial turbine owned by a customer,
The maintenance contract includes a first data record having technical information related to the component and a second data record having information related to a maintenance contract between a customer and a maintenance business operator. A database related to customer-owned industrial turbines, including being owned by and remaining under a maintenance operator after being physically separated from the industrial turbine;
A first scheduling device for informing a maintenance company of an appropriate inspection date based on the maintenance contract;
A second scheduling device for generating at least one equipment list including information regarding the number of parts scheduled for inspection;
Input / output means for accessing the database and the first and second scheduling means;
The number of parts to be manufactured by the maintenance company prior to the appropriate inspection date, and the number of parts to be removed by the maintenance company after any agreed maintenance cycle, are scheduled for inspection. Derived from the number of parts,
Computer system.   21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the maintenance contract includes information regarding the number of consecutive maintenance cycles agreed upon and their respective durations.   21. The computer system according to claim 20, wherein a client terminal is connected to a server via the Internet, the server includes the database and the scheduling unit, and the client terminal includes the input / output unit.

Images