Performance Test Codes
ASME Performance Test Codes (PTCs): A Wide Range of Applications
For over 100 years, ASME has been providing industry with a comprehensive
collection of the best technical documents to conduct tests of power plant
equipment and systems. ASME now offers 48 Performance Test Codes
(PTCs), covering four main categories of equipment and systems – Power
Production, Combustion and Heat Transfer, Fluid Handling, and Emissions.
There are also "general" documents that cover Analytical Techniques,
Measurement of Process Parameters and Associated Phenomena and
Guiding Information.
ASME PTCs: Ensuring Accuracy, Precision, and Reliability.
Instilling Confidence
Performance test codes provide a "level playing field" for both manufacturers
and users of the equipment or systems. Both parties to the test can reference
the particular test code, confident with the knowledge that it represents the
highest level of accuracy based on current engineering knowledge, taking into
account test costs and the value of information obtained from testing.
Precision and reliability of test results must also underlie all considerations in
the development of an ASME PTC, consistent with economic considerations
as judged appropriate by each technical committee under the jurisdiction of
the ASME Board on Standardization and Testing.
Order any of the PTCs below:
ASME PTCs on Power Production
PTC 6, Steam Turbines
PTC 6S, Procedures for Routine Performance Test of Steam Turbines
PTC 6.2, Steam Turbines in Combined Cycles
PTC 17, Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines
PTC 18, Hydraulic Turbines and Pump Turbines
PTC 22, Gas Turbines
PTC 29, Speed-Governing Systems for Hydraulic Turbine Generator Units
PTC 42, Wind Turbines
PTC 46, Overall Plant Performance
PTC 48, Overall Plant Performance with Carbon Capture (under development)
PTC 50, Fuel Cell Power Systems Performance
PTC 52, Performance Test Code for Concentrating Solar Power Plants (under development)
PTC 55, Gas Turbine Aircraft Engines
PTC 70, Ramp Rates
POM 101, Performance Related Outage Inspections
POM 102, Operating Walkdowns of Power Plants (under development)
PTC PM, Performance Monitoring Guidelines for Power Plants
ASME PTCs on Combustion and Heat Transfer
PTC 4, Fired Steam Generators
PTC 4.2, Coal Pulverizers
PTC 4.3, Air Heaters
PTC 4.4, Gas Turbine Heat Recovery Steam Generators
PTC 12.1, Closed Feedwater Heaters
PTC 12.2, Steam Surface Condensers
PTC 12.4, Moisture Separator Reheaters
PTC 12.5, Single Phase Heat Exchangers
PTC 23, Atmospheric Water Cooling Equipment
PTC 30, Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers
PTC 30.1, Air Cooled Steam Condensers
PTC 34, Waste Combustors with Energy Recovery
PTC 51, Gas Turbine Compressor Inlet Air Conditioning Equipment
ASME PTCs on Fluid Handling
PTC 8.2, Centrifugal Pumps
PTC 10, Compressors and Exhausters
PTC 11, Fans
PTC 12.3, Deaerators
PTC 13, Blowers (under development)
PTC 19.11, Steam and Water Sampling, Conditioning, and Analysis in the Power Cycle
PTC 19.23, Guidance Manual for Model Testing
PTC 24, Ejectors
PTC 25, Pressure Relief Devices
PTC 31, High Purity Water Treatment Systems
PTC 39, Steam Traps
ASME PTCs on Emissions
PTC 19.10, Flue and Exhaust Gas Analysis
PTC 21, Particulate Matter Collection Equipment
PTC 28, Determining the Properties of Fine Particulate Matter
PTC 40, Flue Gas Desulfurization Units
ASME General Document on Analytical Techniques
PTC 19.1, Test Uncertainty
ASME General Documents on Measurement of Process
Parameters and Associated Phenomena
PTC 19.2, Pressure Measurement
PTC 19.3, Temperature Measurement
PTC 19.5, Flow Measurement
PTC 19.6, Electrical Power Measurement (under development)
PTC 19.7, Measurement of Shaft Power
PTC 19.22, Data Acquisition Systems
PTC 36, Measurement of Industrial Sound
B133.6, Gas Turbine Installation Sound Emissions
ASME General Documents on Guiding Information
PTC 1, General Instructions
PTC 2, Definitions and Values
PTC 19.3 TW, Thermowells
The Industry Speaks About ASME PTCs
PTC 4, on Fired Steam Generators, is the ultimate comprehensive document
for defining, calculating and testing for the efficiency of Fired Steam
Generators by the Energy Balance Method as well as other significant
performance parameters. A major feature of the Code is that it includes the
methodology for correcting test conditions to guarantee/reference conditions
based upon actual unit performance. The Code is written in a tutorial manner
which enhances use as an instructive medium as well as providing the
methodology for developing a computer code by the user. The Code includes
the methodology for determining the uncertainty of both the test and corrected
results.
— Thomas C. Heil, Retired Babcock & Wilcox
PTC 6, on Steam Turbines, is the international standard for steam turbine
acceptance testing. It was created and recently revised by a consensus group
of vendors, owners, and users. It provides a standard, consistent, method for
determining existing, retrofitted and new steam turbine performance within the
minimum practical uncertainty. It covers large fossil and nuclear fueled utility
grade steam turbine/generators.
— W. Cary Campbell, Principal Engineer, Southern Company Services
PTC 4.4, on Heat Recovery Steam Generators, provides a detailed rigorous
calculation approach for testing of HRSG's. The test approach involves the
determination of the gas turbine exhaust flow by two different means and
combining the result. This would apply to multipressure HRSG's including
units with auxiliary duct burners. It includes guidance on instrumentation
including measuring temperature of a large exhaust flow stream a method for
determining the HRSG test uncertainty.
— Joseph E. Schroeder, Vice President Engineering, Nooter Eriksen
PTC 11, on Fans, provides a reliable method for true testing of fans in the as-
installed condition – without any questionable adjustments to performance
— Philip M. Gerhart, PhD, Dean, College of Engineering & Computer
Sciences, University of Evansville
PTC 19.1, Test Uncertainty, provides guidelines to determine the quality of
test data, objectively. These methods meet national and international
standards for objective data quality assessment: measurement uncertainty.
— Ronald H. Dieck, President, Ron Dieck Associates, Inc.
Over 100 Years of ASME PTCs: Ensuring State-of-the-Art
Quality for State-of-the-Art Technology
In 1884, the ASME published “Rules for Conducting Boiler Tests.” On April
13, 1909, the Power Test Committee was chartered by the Council of ASME
to “revise the present testing codes of the Society relating to boilers, pumping
engines, locomotives, steam engines, internal combustion engines …etc.” In
1915, the “Rules for Conducting Performance Test of Power Plant Apparatus”
was published. Over the years numerous test codes and supplements have
been published. Some have been revised and others withdrawn as new
technological advances have necessitated the issuance of state-of-the-art test
codes. Today, some three dozen test codes are available for testing power
plant equipment, such as fired steam generators, steam turbines and gas
turbines as well as testing fuel cells and combined cycle gasification plants. It
is Society policy to review each standard every five years to determine
whether a revision is necessary.
ASME Performance Test Codes (PTCs) provide uniform rules and procedures
for the planning, preparation, execution, and reporting of performance test
results. They provide protocols for establishing testing parameters and
methods of measurement. They provide mathematical examples on
computing the test results and statistical methods to determine the quality of
the tests by calculating the test uncertainty.
Join an ASME PTC Development Committee
Committee membership enables you to “give back” to your industry –
contributing your technical expertise for the benefit of public safety.
Committee members also gain unique opportunities to expand their
professional networks and technical resources.
Learn more about committee membership and download an application.
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