THERMAL ENGINEERING TIL 1236-R2

PRODUCT SERVICE 30 OCTOBER 2012

Compliance Category – C
Timing Code - 6

TECHNICAL INFORMATION LETTER

WATER WASH RECOMMENDATIONS
APPLICATION
All F/FA/FA+e gas turbines

PURPOSE
Inform affected users of the latest recommendations for offline water wash to avoid potential distress to rotating
components.
REASON FOR REVISION
To provide additional water wash permission criteria.

Compliance Category
O - Optional Identifies changes that may be beneficial to some, but not necessarily all,
operators. Accomplishment is at customer's discretion.
M - Maintenance Identifies maintenance guidelines or best practices for reliable equipment
operation.
C - Compliance Required Identifies the need for action to correct a condition that, if left uncorrected,
may result in reduced equipment reliability or efficiency. Compliance may be
required within a specific operating time.
A - Alert Failure to comply with the TIL could result in equipment damage or facility
damage. Compliance is mandated within a specific operating time.
S – Safety Failure to comply with this TIL could result in personal injury. Compliance is
mandated within a specific operating time.

Timing Code
1 Prior to Unit Startup / Prior to Continued Operation (forced outage condition)
2 At First Opportunity (next shutdown)
3 Prior to Operation of Affected System
4 At First Exposure of Component
5 At Scheduled Component Part Repair or Replacement
6 Next Scheduled Outage

© 2012 General Electric Company

The proprietary information published in this Technical Information Letter is offered to you by GE in consideration of its ongoing sales and service
relationship with your organization. However, since the operation of your plant involves many factors not within our knowledge, and since operation
of the plant is in your control and ultimate responsibility for its continuing successful operation rests with you, GE specifically disclaims any
responsibility for liability based on claims for damage of any type, i.e. direct, consequential or special that may be alleged to have been incurred as
result of applying this information regardless of whether it is claimed that GE is strictly liable, in breach of contract, in breach of warranty, negligent, or
is in other respects responsible for any alleged injury or damage sustained by your organization as a result of applying this information.
This Technical Information Letter contains proprietary information of the General Electric Company, USA and is furnished to its customer solely to
assist that customer in the installation, testing, operation and/or maintenance of the equipment described. This document shall not be reproduced or
distributed in whole or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Energy Services Engineering. All
rights reserved.
 TIL 1236-R2
BACKGROUND DISCUSSION
Gas turbine rotors are potentially sensitive to rapid local cooldown. Rapid local cooldown associated with incorrect off-
line compressor water wash can result in reduced interference at critical rotor rabbet interfaces. The reduced
interference may result in changes in unit vibration performance or localized cyclic stress if the unit is operated at
elevated cooldown speed in this condition.

A GE study showed that, regardless of wash water temperature at the compressor inlet, water temperature at the
compressor discharge casing drain and turbine inlet is much closer to the compressor blade temperature. Compressor
blade temperature is a strong function of ambient air temperature and total cooldown time.

Figure 1: Gas Turbine Flange-to-Flange

If, for example, ambient temperature is 80°F (27°C), wash water temperature at the entrance to the turbine rotor will
also be about 80°F (27°C). This condition could lead to "fast cooldown" and may cause local thermal distress to the rotor
in circumstances where the actual turbine rotor metal temperature is significantly greater than ambient temperature.
Use of 180°F (82°C) inlet wash water was previously thought to allow a maximum permissive wheelspace temperature
of 300°F (149°C) while maintaining the 120°F (67°C) maximum allowable difference between wash water temperature
and wheelspace temperature. However, since it is now apparent that the actual water wash temperature at the turbine
rotor would, in the above example, be closer to 80°F (27°C), a wheelspace temperature of 300°F (149°C) would result in a
220°F (122°C) mismatch, a much greater variation than the maximum allowable difference of 120°F (67°C).

Therefore, an additional requirement for off-line water wash is that each of the average wheelspace temperatures must
be stabilized at 150°F (65.5°C) or lower, while measured at a speed of 30 RPM or lower, before the water wash is started.
This requirement applies regardless of water inlet temperature.

For units that are not equipped to attain a stable speed of 30 RPM or lower, each of the average wheelspace
temperatures must be stabilized at 130°F (54°C) or lower, while measured at 60 RPM or lower, before the water wash is
started. The temperature requirement is lower because the wheelspace temperatures measured while the rotor is
turning at 60 RPM will not reflect the actual temperature of the turbine rotor. The stored heat of the turbine rotor will
cause the wheelspace temperatures to increase after the rotor is returned to turning gear (6 RPM).

RECOMMENDATIONS
For off-line water wash, each of the average wheelspace temperatures must be stabilized at or below 150°F (65.5°C) for
units at 30 RPM or lower, or 130°F (54°C) for units at 60 RPM or lower. Water inlet temperature must also be within
acceptable limits, typically greater than compressor inlet temperature (CTIM) as measured by the Turbine Control Panel
(for water temperatures see appropriate GEK in Reference Documents below). CTIM must still be within acceptable
limits.

Alternatively, for off-line water wash with CTIM above 80°F (27°C), each of the average wheelspace temperatures may
be stabilized at a temperature difference of 70°F (38.5°C) or less from CTIM, while measured at speeds of 30 RPM or
lower, before the water wash is started (see Table 2). For units that are not equipped to attain a stable speed of 30 RPM
© 2012 General Electric Company
This Technical Information Letter contains proprietary information of the General Electric Company, USA and is furnished to its customer solely to
assist that customer in the installation, testing, operation and/or maintenance of the equipment described. This document shall not be reproduced or
distributed in whole or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Energy Services Engineering. All
rights reserved.
Page 2 of 5
 TIL 1236-R2
or lower, each of the average wheelspace temperatures may be stabilized at a temperature difference of 50°F (27°C) or
less from CTIM, while measured at 60 RPM or lower, before the wash is started (see Table 2). Water inlet temperature
must be equal to or greater than CTIM when using the temperature difference method described above. This alternate
recommendation could potentially reduce the amount of cooldown time before an offline water wash can be started
when CTIM is above 80ºF (27ºC). Contact your local GE representative for assistance or for additional information
regarding automated software available for this alternate method.

NOTE: Ensure that CTIM is a true representation of ambient temperature.

Turning speed ≤30RPM ≤60RPM

CTIM See water wash GEK See water wash GEK

Maximum allowable stabilized average 150o F (65.5o C) 130o F (54o C)

wheelspace temperature

Minimum allowable Water temperature See water wash GEK See water wash GEK

Table 1: Off-line water wash temperature requirements

Turning speed ≤30RPM ≤60RPM

CTIM >80o F (27o C) >80o F (27o C)

Alternative maximum allowable stabilized

CTIM + 70o F (38.5oC) CTIM + 50o F (27oC)
average wheelspace temperature

Minimum allowable water temperature ≥CTIM ≥CTIM

Table 2: Alternate off-line water wash temperature requirements

PLANNING INFORMATION
Compliance
• Compliance Category: C
• Timing Code: 6

Manpower Skills
GE Controls field engineer required to update the water wash logic.

Parts
Contact service manager or CPM for assistance or recommendations.

Special Tooling
N/A

Reference Documents
GEK111898, GEK111895, GEK116599

Previous Modifications
N/A

© 2012 General Electric Company

This Technical Information Letter contains proprietary information of the General Electric Company, USA and is furnished to its customer solely to
assist that customer in the installation, testing, operation and/or maintenance of the equipment described. This document shall not be reproduced or
distributed in whole or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Energy Services Engineering. All
rights reserved.
Page 3 of 5
 TIL 1236-R2
Scope of Work
Contact your local GE Service Manager or Contract Performance Manager for assistance or for additional information.

Contact your local GE Service Manager or Contract Performance Manager for assistance or for additional
information.

Contact your local GE Service Manager or Contract Performance Manager in order to update GE unit record sheets
or to submit as-built drawings for changes incurred by this TIL.

NOTE: If you would like to receive future TILs by email, contact your local GE Service Manager or Contract Performance
Manager for assistance.

© 2012 General Electric Company

This Technical Information Letter contains proprietary information of the General Electric Company, USA and is furnished to its customer solely to
assist that customer in the installation, testing, operation and/or maintenance of the equipment described. This document shall not be reproduced or
distributed in whole or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Energy Services Engineering. All
rights reserved.
Page 4 of 5
 TIL 1236-R2
TIL COMPLIANCE RECORD
Compliance with this TIL must be entered in local records. GE requests that the customer notify GE upon compliance of
this TIL.
Complete the following TIL Compliance Record and FAX it to:
TIL Compliance
FAX: (678) 844-3451
Toll free FAX: 1-888-896-TILS (1-888-896-8457)
TIL COMPLIANCE RECORD For Internal Records Only #
Site Name: Customer Name:
Customer Contact Information GE Contact Information
Contact Name: Contact Name:
Address: Address:

Email: Email:
Phone: Phone:
FAX: FAX:
Turbine Serial Number(s):

INSTALLED EQUIPMENT TIL Completed Date:

100% TIL Completed:

Description:

Unit Numbers: Part Description: Part Number MLI Number

Comments:

NOTE: If there are any redlined drawings that pertain to this TIL implementation, please FAX the drawings along with
this TIL Compliance Record.
FAX this form to: TIL Compliance
FAX: (678) 844-3451
Toll free FAX: 1-888-896-TILS (1-888-896-8457)

© 2012 General Electric Company

This Technical Information Letter contains proprietary information of the General Electric Company, USA and is furnished to its customer solely to
assist that customer in the installation, testing, operation and/or maintenance of the equipment described. This document shall not be reproduced or
distributed in whole or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Energy Services Engineering. All
rights reserved.
Page 5 of 5