A gas turbine condition-monitoring system

This paper describes a program to develop a condition-based maintenance system for the Navy's LM2500 main propulsion engine. The effort began with research and evaluation oi the engine failure modes and effects. Using a well-defined reliability-centered maintenance (RCM) methodology, we identified the most appropriate maintenance approach for each subsystem and failure mode. Expert rules were developed for the equipment and failures that will benefit from a condition-based maintenance approach. The expert system is based on the Navy's Integrated Condition Assessment System (ICAS). The proposed system applies new and innovative expert system logic and instrumentation using an upgraded capable ICAS to identify degradation in the marine gas turbine (MGT) engine and its subsystems.