Common Problems with Hydraulic Actuators in Heavy Duty Gas Turbines

›Hydraulic fluid viscosity dependent on ambient

temperatures – leads to slower response times in

cold temperatures – resulting in failed starts

›Fluid varnishing can lead to clogged servovalve

passages resulting in failed starts or stops

›Potential of high pressure hydraulic leaks pose safety risks

›Premature seal failure – noise on hydraulic control

circuits can lead to premature wear on hydraulic

and gas seals

›No actuator/valve data to predict failure in advance of outages

Heavy Duty Gas Turbines have increasingly been dispatched to support

the grid during renewable energy transition. These market conditions

drive fleet owners to operate their assets as peakers, creating the need

for frequent starts. Start-up reliability has become a key success factor

for these units.