KR20080069956A - A method of maintaining the operational capability of a technical installation - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a simple and effective method of maintaining the operational capability of a technical installation owned by a customer, the method being conducted by a maintenance provider.

Description

{A METHOD OF MAINTAINING THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY OF A TECHNICAL INSTALLATION}

The present invention relates generally to a method for managing the operational capability of a technical plant, and more particularly to a method for managing the operational capability of a turbine for power generation by installing alternative components for worn components.

In today's modern industry, modern technology facilities need to perform a variety of tasks. For example, the power generation industry uses complex turbines, generators, and power delivery equipment to generate and deliver electrical power. In order to achieve high rotational speed, power output and efficiency of turbines, vanes and blades are used, if desired, in particular to direct the fuel flow of fuel gas. In particular, vanes and blades of gas and steam turbines with high output ratings are exposed to extreme atmospheric conditions such as the pressure of other polishing causing such high temperatures and / or influences and thus refurbishment of the affected vanes and blades. Or periodic checks to determine if replacement is necessary.

Turbine bearings, turbine valves, turbine pipes and transistors, combustion chamber heat shields and bricks of turbines, compressor blades, compressor bearings, compressor valves, compressor pipes, all disposed within the hot gas path of the turbine There are many other turbine components that are affected by wear, such as components.

The present invention provides a simple and effective method of managing the operational capability of a technical facility owned by a customer, which method is performed by a management provider.

Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention contemplates the concept that initially installed new components or retrofitted components provided by a management provider are mandatory to return to the management provider's sphere after each agreed management cycle is completed. To accompany; The management provider may be, for example, the original manufacturer of the components OEM.

Installing one or more components of the industrial turbine under conditions to be owned by the management provider with the installed components owned by the management provider and separated from the industrial turbine, and

-Remove the installed component from the industrial turbine and provide the removed component to the management provider after an agreed maintenance cycle.

Thus, one management cycle is by installing new components or retrofitted components as a starting point by a management provider and out of the customer's area as an end point by a management provider and the installed new components or retrofitted configuration. Can be defined by removing elements.

The customer has full flexibility in selecting different management providers after the agreed management cycles have been completed, but the initially installed components are returned to the management provider so that the initially installed components are available to the customer (during technical operation) and A closed loop is formed that is only occupied by the management provider (as each agreed management cycle is completed).

The closed loop may be part of a lease that covers the component, or property in initially furnished new respectively refurbished components is installed after each agreed maintenance cycle. May be part of the contract for delivery to:

Install one or more components of the industrial turbine under conditions such that the installed components are separated from the industrial turbine and returned to the management provider, and

Remove the installed component from the industrial turbine and provide the removed component to the management provider after an agreed management cycle, wherein ownership of the component is transferred to the management provider.

All installed components that replace the worn out components at the start of each agreed maintenance cycle will be available only to the management provider who initially installed the components after the maintenance cycle.

Thus, a further aspect of the invention accompanies a computer system capable of automatic management service management:

The computer system comprises a database having one or more data records associated with an industrial turbine, wherein the data records contain technical information about the components, and additional data records provide information about the management contract between the customer and the management provider. In addition, the management contract includes information about the number of agreed consecutive management cycles and the duration of each of the management cycles, wherein the management contract is managed with the installed component owned by the management provider and separated from the industrial turbine. Further includes a provision to be owned by the provider,

Scheduling means for automatically notifying the management provider of due date check dates derived from a management contract and for automatically generating one or more equipment lists including information on the number of components scheduled for the check. Wherein the number of components to be manufactured by the management provider prior to the due date check and the number of components to be removed or received by the management provider after any agreed management cycle are determined by the number of components scheduled for inspection. Derived from the count,

The computer system comprises input and output means for accessing the database and scheduling means.

Advantages of the present invention include a reduction in inventory on the customer side due to the duty of the management provider to install all necessary components covered by the management contract during all agreed management cycles.

This also enables a significant reduction in delivery time for the components since the management provider is well prepared for rapid delivery due to the nature of the management contract.

As a further advantage for the customer, there is no non-guaranteed interval in time compared to conventional management contracts where component warranty generally ends after a fixed time period and before the maintenance cycle ends.

In addition, the customer must deal with only one supply interface described by the management provider because the management provider installs both retrofitted (repaired) components and new components.

In general, a customer thus benefits from an optimized investment over the life of the technical plant, especially if the customer selects a management contract that will last in a number of consecutive management cycles over the life of his industrial turbine. This is the responsibility of the management provider throughout the entire agreed management cycles because of all the risks associated with component failure.

Management providers, on the other hand, benefit from a reliable and computable service business. The risk of excessive and uncalculated warranty obligations can be reduced by closing multiple management agreements with multiple customers so that average risk applies.

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

The above mentioned and other concepts of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of the preferred embodiments of the present invention. The illustrated embodiments are intended to illustrate, but do not limit the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings of the present invention, including the following figures, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the description and the drawings.

1 is a flow diagram for an exemplary processor of the present invention showing an exemplary series of steps for managing the operational capability of an industrial turbine owned by a customer;

2 is a flow diagram for an exemplary alternative process of the present invention;

3 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process of the present invention for implementing at least two consecutive management cycles;

4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary alternative process of the present invention for implementing at least two consecutive management cycles;

5 is a schematic diagram illustrating in principle the invention comprising a plurality of consecutive management periods;

6 is a schematic diagram of a computer system adapted to enable an embodiment of the present invention.

The disclosed invention advantageously uses one or more basic concepts.

One concept is the "closed loop" concept already mentioned above, which aims to keep installed new components or retrofitted components within the customer or manufacturer's territory.

This object is achieved by providing a lease that covers the ownership of the components to the manufacturer at the end of each agreed management cycle or a contract that includes an obligation to return the initially installed components to the management provider.

Another concept is a flat fee to the customer, including the granting of the warranty to the customer to improve the customer's reliability of the management contract and / or all necessary repair and replacement costs associated with the components installed throughout each agreed management cycle. Accompanying to charge.

This also enables the customer to have a fixed, eg annual, total amount for regular administrative costs to be included in the customer's business plan and thus avoid financial risks that cannot be calculated.

In addition, the first payable flat rate for at least the agreed first management cycle is generally much less than in the known service & management contracts, since installed components will not be granted unlimited ownership to themselves. You won't have to pay the full fee for it.

Subsequent maintenance cycles, which are preferably billed at the same flat rate as the agreed first cycle mentioned above, may be priced at or much higher than in general service & management contracts, in which case the invention According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, only defective components are exchanged for new or retrofitted, and all components covered under a management contract are replaced with new or retrofitted components installed at the beginning of each agreed maintenance cycle (as well as those that are defective). Replaced with the specified component.

This enables customers to manage their technical facilities up to date, which can contribute to their competitiveness. Thus, this aspect of the invention provides a performance guarantee to the customer compared to a simple component guarantee.

Another concept involves a number of consecutive management cycles covered by a management contract, and as a result both customers and management providers benefit from being able to calculate the cost for each workload.

Another concept includes a computer system that enables management providers to efficiently organize their service business by providing a database and scheduling means that are preferably accessible via the Internet.

All embodiments to be described in detail below are preferably for example turbine vanes, turbine blades, turbine bearings, turbine valves, turbine pipes, combustion chamber heat shields, compressor blades, compressor bearings, compressor It applies to service & management contracts covering components for industrial turbines for power generation, such as valves, compressor pipes and all turbine components disposed within the hot gas path of the turbine.

1 shows a flow diagram illustrating a series of exemplary steps that can be performed to efficiently manage the operational capability of a technical facility owned by a customer.

Step 1 is installing at least one new component or a retrofitted component by a management provider, wherein ownership of the component is owned by the management provider.

In the following, attention is drawn to the fact that the customer's technical facility is generally suitable for continuous operation throughout the agreed maintenance cycle and that the components are exposed to wear at the end of the maintenance cycle.

Step 2 indicates the end of the aforementioned management cycle wherein the management provider removes the new component or retrofitted component (installed in step 1) out of the customer's area.

The customer may then decide to select the same management provider for another management cycle or may choose to select another management provider.

The concept described above may be considered as a kind of lease that covers installed components (not the entire industrial turbine) (only).

2 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Step 1 is installing at least one new component or a retrofitted component by a management provider, wherein ownership of the component is owned by the management provider.

Step 2 includes agreeing on ownership of each new retrofitted component to be delivered to the management provider at the end of the agreed management cycle.

Finally, step 3 is the step of removing each installed new retrofitted component out of the customer's area by the management provider after the agreed management cycle.

In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 1, ownership of installed components is transferred to the management provider only after the end of the agreed management cycle.

FIG. 3 further expands on the embodiments already described in FIG. 1 by adding steps 3 and 4 (similar to repetition of steps 1 and 2) to implement at least two consecutive managements.

4 is already described in FIG. 2 by adding steps 4, 5, and 6 (actually identical to the repetition of steps 1, 2, and 3) to implement at least two consecutive management cycles using the present invention. The example further described.

5 shows a schematic diagram comprising a plurality of consecutive management periods 10, 12, 14.

Each maintenance cycle begins with a major overhaul of an industrial turbine, where a number of new or retrofitted components 16, 18 and 20 are installed to replace worn components; Preferably all components exposed to wear are exchanged for new or retrofitted installations at the beginning of each maintenance cycle 10, 12, 14.

The technical facility is again adapted for continuous operation until the end of each maintenance cycle 10, 12, 14.

At the end of each of the management cycles 10, 12, 14, the initially installed components 16, 18, 20 are removed out of the customer's area by the management provider.

After the agreed final maintenance cycle 14 has ended, the customer no longer owns any initially installed components 16, 18, 20.

 FIG. 6 schematically depicts a computer system 30 which preferably provides a scheduling means 42 and a database 32 accessible via the Internet to enable a management provider to efficiently organize their service business. do.

Database 32 includes one or more data records 34 related to the technical facility, which data records 34 contain technical information about the one or more components. In addition, the database further includes an additional data record 36 having information about a management contract between the customer and the management provider, wherein the management contract relates to the number of agreed consecutive management cycles and the duration of each of the management cycles. Contains information.

The management contract includes provisions for the customer to return to the management provider all components covered and installed after each agreed management cycle under the management contract.

The scheduling means 42 automatically notifies the management provider of the due date check dates derived from the management contract and automatically generates one or more equipment lists 44 having information about the number of scheduled components for the check. Wherein the number of components adapted to be manufactured by the management provider prior to the check and the number of components to be removed by the management provider out of the customer's area after each agreed management cycle are scheduled for inspection. It is derived from the number of elements.

This allows the service provider's service business to be made efficient by using the present invention.

In addition to the embodiments and aspects of the present invention described above, those skilled in the art implement various embodiments and steps of the principles of the present invention and fall within the scope of the appended claims, even if not explicitly described in the detailed description above. You will be able to reach the fields.

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

In addition, the use of the invention is not limited to managing the operating capacity of industrial turbines; Management intervals may be scheduled and may also benefit the management of any other technical facilities with parts of repair or exchange requirements.

Claims (22)

A method of managing the operating capacity of a customer's owned industrial turbine, Installing one or more components of a customer-owned industrial turbine under conditions in which the component to be installed is owned by the management provider and physically separated from the industrial turbine to be owned by the management provider; And Removing the installed component from an industrial turbine and providing the removed component to a management provider after an agreed maintenance cycle, How to manage. The method of claim 1, Installing one or more additional components of the industrial turbine under conditions that the additional components to be installed will be owned by the management provider and separated from the industrial turbine and owned by the management provider; And Removing the additional component from the industrial turbine and providing the removed component to a management provider after another agreed management cycle, such that two or more consecutive maintenance cycles are implemented. How to manage. The method of claim 1, The management provider grants the customer a certificate for the component, which is valid throughout the agreed maintenance cycle. How to manage. The method of claim 1, A maintenance cycle is defined by the installation of a component as a starting point and the removal of the component as an ending point. How to manage. The method of claim 1, The management provider charges the customer a flat fee covering all necessary repair and replacement costs related to the component incurred during the agreed maintenance cycle. How to manage. The method of claim 1, The component is any one of a turbine vane, a turbine blade, turbine bearing, turbine valve, turbine pipe, combustion chamber heat shield, compressor blade, compressor bearing, compressor valve, and compressor pipe, How to manage. The method of claim 1, The management provider is the original equipment manufacturer of the component, How to manage. The method of claim 1, Components are owned by a management provider after each agreed management cycle, How to manage. The method of claim 1, The component installation step includes installing a plurality of components, the plurality of components comprising any one of turbine vanes or turbine blades, How to manage. The method of claim 9, All turbine vanes respectively turbine blades of all turbine vanes equipped in an industrial turbine are replaced by the furnished turbine vanes respectively turbine blades of the installed turbine vanes. How to manage. As a way to manage the operating capacity of industrial products owned by the customer, Installing one or more components of the customer-owned industrial turbine under conditions that the components to be installed are physically separated from the industrial turbine and returned to the management provider; And Removing the installed component from an industrial turbine and providing the removed component to a management provider after an agreed maintenance cycle, Ownership of the component is passed to the management provider, How to manage. The method of claim 11, Installing one or more additional components of the industrial turbine under conditions such that the additional components to be installed are separated from the industrial turbine and returned to the management provider; And Removing said additional component from an industrial turbine after another agreed management cycle and providing said removed component to a management provider; Ownership of the component is passed to the management provider so that two or more consecutive management cycles are implemented. How to manage. The method of claim 11, The management provider grants the customer a warranty relating to the component, which is valid for the other agreed maintenance cycles. How to manage. The method of claim 11, A maintenance cycle is defined by the installation of a component as a starting point and the removal of the component as an ending point. How to manage. The method of claim 11, The management provider charges the customer a flat fee covering all necessary repair and replacement costs related to the component incurred during the agreed maintenance cycle. How to manage. The method of claim 11, The component is any one of a turbine vane, turbine blade, turbine bearing, turbine valve, turbine pipe, turbine transistor, combustion chamber heat shield, combustion chamber brick, compressor blade, compressor bearing, compressor valve, and compressor pipe, How to manage. The method of claim 11, The management provider is the original equipment manufacturer of the component, How to manage. The method of claim 11, The component remains in the management provider's area after each agreed management cycle. How to manage. The method of claim 11, The component installation step includes installing a plurality of components equal to the number of components of the same type installed in the industrial turbine, How to manage. A computer system for managing the operating capacity of an industrial turbine owned by a customer, A database relating to a customer-owned industrial turbine comprising a first data record having technical information about the component and a second data record having information about a management contract between the customer and the management provider-the management contract being installed Includes, is owned by, the management provider and physically separated from the industrial turbine by the management provider; A first scheduling device for notifying the management provider of a due date check date based on the management contract; A second scheduling device for generating a list of one or more equipment including information about the number of components scheduled for inspection; And Input and output means for accessing the database and the first and second scheduling means, The number of components to be manufactured by the management provider prior to the due date check and the number of components to be removed by the management provider after any agreed management cycle are derived from the number of components scheduled for inspection, Computer system. The method of claim 20, The management contract includes information on the number of agreed consecutive management cycles and the duration of each of the management cycles, Computer system. The method of claim 20, The client terminal is connected to the server via the internet, The server includes a database and scheduling means, and the client terminal includes input and output means, Computer system.

Images