In 1975, Hamar Laser built the first steam turbine
laser alignment system for Westinghouse. Laser alignment saved the company
significant time over traditional methods like tight wire, feeler gages
(leads) or optics. With today's advanced laser systems, the timesaving
benefit, as well as accuracy, has increased dramatically. According to
the Tennessee Valley Authority, their allocated time for alignment dropped
by 50 percent when using our L-705 Turbine Alignment System.
The most common method of turbine alignment is the tight wire. Although
tight wire has produced good results for many years, it is increasingly
becoming outdated. It takes too long to set up, is subject to vibration,
which limits other work during alignment and is subject to catenary sag
and other environmental influences. With power company consolidation and
competitive power markets, shorter outages and more efficient turbines
are critical to industry profitability.
The combination of the L-705 Turbine Alignment System, the L-740 Split-Joint
Measuring System and the S-650 Coupling Alignment Systems create a powerful
tool kit to significantly reduce turbine outages and increase efficiency.
To give an example of increased efficiency, an L-705 customer told us
that a turbine took 10 minutes to stop rotating after shutdown prior to
laser alignment and 30 minutes after laser alignment!
There are 2 basic types of lasers:
Straight-Line Laser Systems - designed for
steam turbine bore and shaft alignment applications.
Continuously Rotating Laser Systems - designed
for split or horizontal-joint flatness measuring applications.
Our continuously rotating laser systems come in 2
accuracy grades: the L-730 Precision Series and the L-740 Ultra-Precision
Series. Each series offers 4 different laser systems with single, dual
and triple plane versions. The L-730 Series is designed for those with
accuracies needs of 0.00012"/ft (0.01 mm/M) or higher and the L-740
Series is for those with accuracy needs of 0.00002"/ft (0.0017 mm/M)
or higher.
Depending on the application, prices range from $7,995 to $39,950.
