You attracted the brief straw as well as have to get down right into the bowels of the low pressure turbine to inspect the vapor extraction piping development joints. Not a poor gig - if your pastime is spelunking. There is just one problem; you can not check what you can't see.

The bellows are safeguarded by a steel cover. That cover, together with the end rings, is safely welded to the piping. It is not removable.

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The fixed covers are there for a purpose - to shield the bellows from the high velocity of the invested generator vapor. And to ensure they stay, they are welded on solidly. This defense features a compromise; the bellows can't be conveniently evaluated aesthetically.

It is a sure bet that if the development joints are older than twenty years, much of the bellows will certainly have leaking fractures. Those leakages are impacting the wind turbine's efficiency.

The figure listed below shows a regular cover arrangement. You must be able to get a borescope via the space on one side. The scope will give you some concept of the problem of the bellows, however there will certainly still be some difficulty in obtaining a great peek down between the convolutions.

Seek indicators of cover damage. Usually the original designs had lighter covers (and linings) that would certainly not stand up under the high circulation velocities. Those pieces are lodged someplace down in the condenser.

Likewise think about updating from stainless steel bellows to alloy 625 for much better security against chloride anxiety rust.

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You might end that a 20+ year service for the development joints is a great run. If you determine to go back with the original layout, at least include a few evaluation port couplings to enhance the view of the bellows with a borescope.