The Role of Gas Path Diagnostics in the Changing Gas Turbine After-market

Abstract

Aero gas turbine maintenance strategies are likely to see profound changes in the future. The remarkable size of the aftermarket for both military and civil aero gas turbines has already changed the nature of the business case. The aftermarket is large, more lucrative and not subject to the cyclical downturns of the original equipment sales. The competition which this considerably profitable after market creates will spur advances in diagnostic techniques. Of particular importance is advanced gas path diagnostics where, in recent years, engineering science research has opened pathways using somewhat surprising technologies. The paper will present work covering linear and non-linear gas path analysis, genetic algorithms, neural networks, fuzzy logic and hybrid systems. Much of the costs associated with the gas turbine after market relates to the gas path and these techniques are seen to play an important role