SERVICES

Global on-site mechanical and

electrical inspections
Damage evaluation employing
latest defect assessment tools
and techniques
Modern metallurgical testing
and analysis facilities
State-of-the-art computational
simulation methods
In-house lifng and industry
standard lifng techniques
Real-life conditions can often differ considerably from original
design parameters with signifcant consequences on deterioration
mechanisms which affect equipment reliability and safe operational
life.
Owners and operators of critical assets therefore need to rely on expert engineering
assessments when making decisions to continue operation, alter operating parameters,
repair or replace plant equipment.
ERA Technologys engineers have a proven international reputation for the planning,
performing, supporting and auditing of inspection and assessment programmes for a variety
of industries and equipment.
The spectrum of mechanical and electrical engineering knowledge and experience enables
us to offer a broad range of technical services from on-site feld support to complex
numerical simulations to support any ftness for service programme. As a long-standing
independent consultancy, our knowledge and expertise able us to provide the impartial
advice valued both by our clients and across industry.
EVALUATING SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF IN-SERVICE EQUIPMENT
Improving Asset Safety and Reliability
FI TNESS FOR SERVI CE
CONSULTANCY
Helping customers to resolve damage
issues
ERAs involvement in ftness for service
assessments extends over the past 30 years
which has enabled us to develop a deep
understanding of industry-specifc issues
and life-limiting damage mechanisms.
As a result we have a successful track-record
of helping our clients identify safety-critical
items in need of immediate remediation
as well as support for long-term strategic
asset planning for inspection, repair and
replacement programmes.
Experienced-based assessment
It has been often found that risk-based
inspections (RBI) will highlight likely damage
mechanisms for a component as a whole,
but will not provide inspection teams with
specifc information concerning critical areas
where examinations should focus.
ERA are able suppor t its clients with
developing appropriate inspection plans
to identify susceptible life-limiting locations
as well as provide on-site feld operatives
to undertake the inspection and carry out
on-site assessments to provide immediate
engineering recommendations.
Following on-site examinations, ERA can
offer a comprehensive list of ser vices
including detailed defect assessments
(including API Level 3) and fnite element
simulations in order to evaluate any damage
identifed during inspections.
Ensuring safety in a changing electricity
market
The current electricity market means that
power generation companies need to
respond rapidly to changes in consumer
demand in order to remain competitive.
Commercial pressures subsequently
influence engineering and operational
decisions which often requires outside
technical support.
ERA was commissioned by a UK power
generation company to evaluate its
proposed operational changes to one of its
combined cycle power stations. In particular,
we were asked to study the fatigue lives of
key components within the Heat Recovery
Steam Generation (HRSG) as a result of
changes to standard 2 Shifting starts to
so-called Fast starts.
Based on our previous experience with
this equipment, we were able identify
key locations on which to focus damage
assessments on. Consequently as part of
this study, computational simulations of
equipment, including the high pressure
steam drum and outlet headers, were
generated to determine changes in transient
thermal stresses at key locations during the
two start-up conditions.
Following this, fatigue assessments in-line
with industry codes were conducted which
supported the changes to the proposed
operational conditions. To reinforce this
decision, fur ther fracture mechanics
studies were conducted to determine the
tolerability to defects of HRSG components.
The end result of this work enabled our
client to provide technical justifcations to
operate with new rapid starts.
FITNESS FOR SERVICE CONSULTANCY
CONTACT US
info@era.co.uk
www.era.co.uk
ASSET EXPERIENCE:
Rotating equipment: gas and
steam turbines
Combined cycle power
generation equipment
Conventional boilers
Heat exchangers
Columns and reactors
Pipework
Fired heaters
Offshore structures
Storage tanks
Electrical generation,
distribution and switchgear