The UEC-UMPO enterprise of the United Engine Corporation has started implementing a new program to improve the reliability of AL-31ST gas turbine drives with a capacity of 16 MW intended for Gazprom facilities.
The program was developed for 2022-2023 in order to further improve the product in accordance with customer requirements. Among other things, it is planned to increase the reliability of the power turbine of the AL-31ST engine and the low-pressure compressor supports, and to make the contact surfaces of the anti-vibration shelves of the working blades of the KND more wear-resistant.
The previous reliability program started in 2012 has been completed. The upgraded AL-31ST, currently being delivered to the customer, has high-pressure turbines with working blades with an improved cooling matrix, upgraded TVD supports and KND modules with an adjustable input guide device. To analyze the technical condition, determine the power parameters and control the vibration state of industrial engines coming into operation, an innovative system of remote (trend) monitoring of the operating parameters of products is used. A great contribution to the improvement of the AL-31ST was made by the specialists of the OKB. And the Cradle is a branch of the UEC–UMPO. In the process of modernization, they obtained 13 patents of the Russian Federation for the design of engine elements.
"During the implementation of the previous program to improve the reliability of the AL-31ST engines, we were able to achieve significant results," notes Evgeny Semivelichenko, Managing Director of UEC–UMPO. – Today we deliver the engine to the customer in a new constructive face with increased resource indicators: the assigned resource has been increased from 75 to 125 thousand hours, the warranty – from 6 to 8 thousand hours. The association carries out an intensive production program for the supply of AL-31ST for the Power of Siberia gas pipeline and the Bovanenkovsky oil and gas condensate field, continues active cooperation with Gazprom Transgaz Ufa. In general, the volume of deliveries of AL-31ST for Gazprom subsidiaries will continue to grow: we plan that 125 engines will be in operation by 2025 (now - 86). New reliability measures launched this year will strengthen the competitive advantages of our industrial engines."
In parallel with the implementation of the production program of the year, employees of gas transportation enterprises are being trained in the direction of "Design, operation, maintenance of gas turbine engines of the "AL" series. Recall that the roadmap of the joint educational project of UEC-UMPO, Gazprom Transgaz Ufa, Ufa State Petroleum Technical University and National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University was signed in October last year. In January 2022, the first group of workers of the Gazprom Transgaz Ufa and Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk enterprises were trained. The theoretical course was held at the Rostec Production and Training Center on the basis of UEC-UMPO, and the practical stage was held at the Polyana compressor station in Bashkortostan. The next step will be the training of engineering and technical employees of Gazprom subsidiaries, scheduled for August-September.
