Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
(OP)
We have a steel generator rotor that is being scrapped and would like to remove a section from it for analysis (cracked, away from the retaining rings). Does anyone have any suggestions for how to cut this thing up in the field when it is 35" in diameter at the area of interest. We need to maintain the material properties.
Thanks.
Thanks.





RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
There are portable bandsaws, but you would only be able to cut 3-4" into the rotor.
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Corrosion never sleeps, but it can be managed.
http://www.trenttube.com/Trent/tech_form.htm
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
I had visions of two lumberjacks and a really long hack-saw... Do they make blades for these concrete saws that would work on the steel?
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
You could have someone come in and remove the sample for you or you could rent a saw and do the work yourself.
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
I would not use any portable bandsaw or manual sawing device because of the size of the rotor. We have in the past used a portable plasma cutting torch to extract samples from a scrap Westinghouse turbine/generator rotor forging. This should be no different. However, as Edstainless mentioned, you should extract a large enough sample to provide enough material away from the heat affected zone (4" on any cut side is plenty of distance).
Is the generator rotor stripped of copper?
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
- re: torch/plasma: The 4" is what I was looking for in this regards.
- re: copper: It will be prior to any torch cutting, unless we want to generate liquid metal embrittlement samples...
I was wondering if we could rig one of these water-cooled concrete saws with the proper blade and then rotate the rotor...
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Corrosion never sleeps, but it can be managed.
http://www.trenttube.com/Trent/tech_form.htm
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
A more practical approach might be to see if there a tube bundle saw in the area. We have one that could cut on a 48" diameter 8" deep. These saws are a modification of a horizontal bandsaw that increases the blade vertical travel.
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field
RE: Cutting of LARGE rotors in the field