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 Third Party Consultation
Design Reviews
Failure Analysis
Litigation Support
Where can a gas turbine owner/user obtain the services of a qualified independent consultant?
Who can supply professional solutions to complex turbine design and equipment failure issues?
Kenetech Taunton Municipal Light and Power Golden Valley Electric
Amerada Hess Corp. Sohio American Bureau of Shipping OMNI
The following partial list, generated from the Fern Engineering project files, represents examples of our engineering consultation.
GAS TURBINE FAILURES.
Fern Engineering has conducted numerous reviews of gas turbines failures.
Fern is knowledgeable with aeroderivative and heavy industrial gas turbine models and all of their components, such as compressors, combustors, turbines, gearboxes, etc.
Result: Failure analyses are completed quickly and accurately, minimizing disputes between owners, operators, and manufacturers.
OWNER REPRESENTATIVE.
Fern Engineering has represented numerous machinery owners during negotiations or disputes with manufacturers, overhaulers, vendors, etc.
Fern's role has been to protect the owner's interest by interpreting and evaluating the engineering proposals and recommending appropriate reactions by the owner.
TURBINE BLADE REDESIGN EVALUATION.
Fern Engineering acted as a third party consultant on behalf of a major petroleum company to oversee the failure analysis and redesign of an OEM's 2nd stage gas turbine blade.
The client's gas turbines suffered several unexplained blade failures causing expensive production losses.
Fern worked closely with the OEM to identify the problem and to establish a corrective action plan, which included a significant redesign of the blade.
Result: The units were returned to operation with minimal downtime and improved reliability, saving the client considerable expense and loss of production.
BOILER FEED PUMP FAILURE ANALYSIS.
Retained by a large power utility company, Fern Engineering diagnosed the cause of recurring, catastrophic pump failures and oversaw its correction.
The pump failed continually for years after very short running times. Attempts at correction by the OEM had been unsuccessful.
Fern discovered the pump's natural frequency was intermittently excited by cavitation. Interstage seal modifications and plant operational procedures were specified.
Result: The utility has reduced outages. Frequent and costly repairs have been eliminated.
EXPERT SERVICES TO EVALUATE ACCIDENTS AND FAILURES INVOLVING EQUIPMENT.
Fern Engineering provides technical expertise for litigation support.
These expert technical activities include cause-of-failure investigations, testimony, depositions, exhibit preparation, arbitration, and trials.
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