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TIL 1389-1R1
GE ENERGY SERVICES
PRODUCT SERVICE
20 February 2003
TECHNICAL INFORMATION LETTER
COMPRESSOR ROTOR BLADE EROSION RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM WATER INGESTION USED IN Evaporative Cooler Operation:
POWER AUGMENTATION GE recommends monitoring the evaporative coolers for
proper operation and any evidence of water carryover.
This evidence may include water stains, puddles, or
APPLICABLE TO streaking in the filter inlet house or bell mouth area;
All commissioned F Class gas turbines with evaporative deposits on filter or cycle deck material; missing,
coolers, inlet fogging systems or on-line water wash damaged, or misaligned filter or cycle deck material or
systems not operating per TIL1323. others.

PURPOSE Any evidence of water carry over should be

To update the affected units list.
To inform users to cease inlet fogger operation and
perform compressor blade erosion inspection at the
earliest opportunity on units that have operated inlet-
fogging systems beyond 100 cumulative hours.
Additionally, to inform users operating evaporative
coolers beyond 100 cumulative hours to cease usage
of evaporative coolers until compressor blade erosion
inspections can be performed at the earliest convenient
outage.
If “wet operation” includes a combination of inlet
fogger/evaporative cooler usage combined with on-line
water washing, the inspection should be performed
when cumulative operation of “wet operation” reached
100 hours.
BACKGROUND DISCUSSION
Inspections performed per TIL1303 have indicated that
inlet foggers have been contributing to increased
erosion rates on the leading edge of row 0 compressor
blades. Additionally, evaporative coolers that are
experiencing carryover due to overspray or improper
maintenance can contribute to an increased erosion
rate. Usage of inlet fogging systems specifically has
led to row 0 compressor blade distress due to erosion.
Further communication will be release as needed
through the course of the investigation.
dispositioned and eliminated by GE or the
manufacturing vendor and the R0 blade leading edges
inspected for erosion. Refer to TIL1285 for additional
information on evaporative cooler maintenance.
GE recommends a mold and fluorescent penetrant
inspection be performed within the Spring 2003 outage
season on units that have run 100 hours of cumulative
evaporative cooler operation. Until this inspection is
performed, cease usage of the evaporative cooler
system if usage has exceeded 100 cumulative hours of
operation. Your GE Service/Installation Managers
should be contacted to facilitate the disposition of the
mold inspection. If the fluorescent penetrant inspection
reveals no indications, proceed with normal operation
of the machine ceasing usage of inlet fogger,
evaporative cooler, and on-line water washing systems
until provided a disposition of the mold inspection from
GE Power Systems.

COPYRIGHT 2003 GE
The 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.
 TIL 1389-1R1
Inlet Fogging Operation:
Field data collected by GE has shown significant
erosion on most units operating inlet foggers regardless
of the manufacture. Blade erosion varies but is
dependant on how the fogger is maintained and
operated. Specifically, the higher the spray ratio, the
higher the water carryover into the compressor, and
therefore, the higher the erosion on the R0 blade
leading edge.

GE recommends a mold and fluorescent penetrant

inspection be performed at the earliest opportunity on
units that have run 100 hours of cumulative inlet
fogging operation. Your GE Service/Installation
Manager should be contacted to facilitate the
disposition of the mold inspection. If the fluorescent
penetrant inspection reveals no indications, proceed
with normal operation of the machine ceasing usage of
inlet fogger, evaporative cooler, and on-line water
washing systems until provided a disposition of the
mold inspection from GE Power Systems.

MAINTENANCE
Based on the results of the mold inspection the
recommendation may be to have a GE qualified
technician blend repair the leading edge of the R0
blades. Until the blend repair can be scheduled, “wet
operation” should be discontinued and an FPI
inspection of the Row 0 blades may be requested at a
starts interval as specified by GE Power Systems.

Contact your local GE Energy Services

representative for assistance or for additional
information.