Failure Analysis of Heavy Industrial Gas Turbine Engine First Stage Nozzel Guide Vane

Failure analysis investigation was conducted on 70 MW set of 1st stage turbine nozzle guide vanes (NGV's) of heavy industrial gas turbine. The failure was investigated using the light optical microscope (LOM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). The results of the analysis indicate that the NGV's which were made of Co base superalloy FSX-414 had been operated above the recommended operating hours under different fuel types in addition to inadequate repair process in previous repair removal. The XRD analysis of the fractured areas sample shows presence of Cr2NiO4 which might indicate the prolonged operation at high temperature.