Professional Evaluation of Condition-Based Maintenance for Gas Turbine Compressors in the Power Generation Sector in Edo State

Gas turbine compressors are critical and capital-intensive assets in the power generation plants of Edo State, South South Nigeria, where turbine availability directly determines electricity generation capacity and revenue. Traditional time-based maintenance approaches for these assets result in either premature component replacement or unexpected failures that cause costly generation outages. This study provides a professional evaluation of condition-based maintenance implementation for gas turbine compressors at two independent power producers in Benin City. The CBM programme assessed incorporates vibration spectrum analysis using permanently mounted accelerometers, performance parameter trending including compressor efficiency, pressure ratio, and inlet guide vane response time, as well as lube oil analysis and borescope inspection at condition-triggered intervals. Monitoring data from 18 months of CBM programme operation are analysed for each asset, comparing failure rates, maintenance costs, and forced outage hours against the preceding 18-month period under time-based maintenance. Results show a 42 percent reduction in unplanned forced outage events attributable to compressor faults and a 19 percent reduction in total maintenance cost per turbine operating hour under the CBM programme. The study identifies early-warning detection of compressor blade fouling as the most significant CBM benefit, enabling targeted online water washing interventions that preserved turbine output efficiency. Organizational change management challenges in transitioning from time-based to condition-based maintenance culture are documented and addressed in the study's implementation recommendations. Keywords: condition-based maintenance, gas turbine, compressor monitoring, power generation, Edo State