Exhaust Thermowell
New Design Exhaust Thermowell
(Patent Pending)
Background:
Did you know exhaust thermocouple failure is the number one cause of trips by five to one over any other trip? This includes the entire balance of plant and bleed heat valves.
Improvements in Design:
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Uses your existing thermocouples.
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Locks at bottom of the thermowell essentially making the thermocouple 1” long.
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Designed for thermal expansion of thermowell keeping thermocouple solidly attached to the seating surface through start-up and full operation.
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Installation is consistent with use of a strain relief nut.
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Thermocouple floats within the thermowell keeping stresses off the thermocouple casing getting maximum life out of thermocouple.
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Strain relief bracket provides support at electrical cable connection.
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Increase availability and reliability of your turbine.
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The gas turbine is required to be shut down to replace a thermocouple. The cost of replacing the thermocouple in an hour is approximately: $17,500 – lost power generation revenue and $10,000 – combustion turbine startup = $27,500.
GTSP’s “New Design Exhaust Thermowell” will increase availability and reliability for your turbine. For any additional questions, feel free to contact me.
Cutaway of a Thermowell and a Thermocouple with a Swagelock Fitting in Use Today
The existing thermowell design uses a swagelock fitting that doesn’t allow for movement or expansion in either direction causing damage to the thermowell and the thermocouple and is a leading cause of trips in GE combustion turbines.
Boroscoped Damaged Thermowell
Cutaway of Production Exhaust Thermowell
Exhaust thermocouple extends through an aluminum bronze strain relief nut pushing on a spring which pushes on a tube which pushes on a clip which pushes on the thermocouple seat locking it on the bottom of the thermowell. The thermocouple can move or expand in two directions. The existing thermowell design uses a swagelock fitting that doesn’t allow for movement or expansion in either direction causing damage to the thermowell and the thermocouple and is a leading cause of trips in GE combustion turbines.
Damaged Thermocouple
Exhaust Thermowell Bottom
Cutaway exhaust thermowell shows locked thermocouple seat at the bottom of the thermowell
Bill of Material ~ Type A and B
Bill of Material ~ Type C
Themowell Collar
Themowell Bottom