Reliability of gas turbine driven compressor sets for gas pipelines

The gas turbine driven compressor sets of gas pipelines are characterized with multiple subsystems, complex control system, high failure frequency and poor maintainability. The failure of gas turbine driven compressor sets has a direct effect on the reliability of gas transmission pipelines and the safety of compressor stations. In this paper, the reliability indexes of gas turbine driven compressor sets were established, including reliability, failure rate, mean time between failures (MTBF), repair rate, and mean time to repair (MTTR). Then, reliability index calculation and analysis were performed on the operation and shutdown data of 36 gas turbine driven compressor sets at 14 compressor stations in West-East Gas Pipelines I and II during 2012-2014. Finally, the reliability function of compressor sets was developed. It is shown that the failure rate, MTTR and repair rate of gas turbine driven compressor sets in gas pipelines are relatively stable three years after they are put into operation. And once a failure occurs, the characteristic of bathtub curve is presented obviously. The research results provide a reference for the safe and reliable operation and scientific maintenance of gas turbine driven compressor sets.