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United's material recovery program lowers costs for gas turbine overhauls

Journal Article · · Diesel Gas Turbine Prog.; (United States)
OSTI ID:7338128
United Air Lines has one of the most extensive, well-equipped jet gas-turbine overhaul facilities in the world and has been very active in industrial-aircraft gas-turbine overhaul and maintenance work since 1971. One of the most interesting techniques utilized at United's maintenance operations facility in San Francisco is the material-recovery program that seeks to salvage gas-turbine parts that can be reclaimed and rebuilt. This procedure normally permits the reclaiming of various components and parts to a like-new or even-better-than-new condition at a cost of only 10-25 percent of the price of a new part. When costs of reclaiming approach the 50 percent cost level, a new part is usually utilized. These cost savings have proven to be most substantial in keeping maintenance costs down. United originally developed this material-recovery system for its aircraft gas-turbine work but has applied it effectively to industrial turbines as well. The company has a well-developed procedure for evaluating parts for recovery and rework, i.e., all parts are processed through for disposition when no existing repair technique is available, a computer printout is made for each part, and repair possibilities are evaluated, including parts review with engineering, the specialized repair-development group, an inspector, and a salvage foreman. A decision is made to make a prototype repair either in-house or through an outside vendor. The specialists in the repair-development group and engineering follow up and make up a specification.
OSTI ID:
7338128
Journal Information:
Diesel Gas Turbine Prog.; (United States), Journal Name: Diesel Gas Turbine Prog.; (United States) Vol. 40; ISSN DGTPA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English