TECHNICAL BULLETIN

PSSB 20190708A: Safe Operation of Valves During Bench

Testing
Abstract
This Technical Bulletin is to inform Customers of the applicability of PSSB 20190708A to units serviced by BHGE.

Serviceable Units
Applicable to all gas turbines with the following Woodward supplied valves: purge valves, gas control valves,
and rotary control and stop valves.

Compliance Category

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 Technical Bulletin could result in equipment or facility damage.
Compliance is mandated within a specific operating time.

S – Safety Failure to comply with this Technical Bulletin 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

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Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie S.r.l. Proprietary Information

The information published in this Technical Bulletin 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 factors not within our knowledge, and since operation of the plant is
within your control and responsibility for its continuing successful operation rests with you, GE disclaims responsibility or liability for damage
of any type, including but not limited to direct, consequential or special damages that may be alleged to have occurred as a 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 any
other respect responsible for any alleged injury or damage sustained by your organization as a result of applying this information. The
information contained in this Technical Bulletin is confidential and proprietary. This Bulletin and the information contained in it are protected by
copyright and/or other intellectual property rights. This Bulletin and information are provided for authorized use only, and may not be used by
or disclosed to others without the prior express written consent of Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie S.r.l.
GE Power Product Service

Safe Operation of Valves During Bench Testing Safety

PSSB 20190708A Bulletin
Overview
To advise affected units of a safety precaution that should be taken when bench testing Woodward valves. The
Woodward valve manuals have been updated to include this precaution.

Application
Applicable to all gas turbines with the following Woodward supplied valves: purge valves, gas control valves, and
rotary control and stop valves.

Background
During on-site pressure testing of a Woodward GCV, at an internal valve pressure of 20 bar / 290 psig, the diverging
sleeve at the outlet flange of the valve was ejected forcefully, causing damage to the floor. Some valve parts, like
diverging sleeves, are held to the valve body using retaining screws that are not engineered to hold pressure loads.
These screws will hold the valve together, but the valve relies on being bolted to piping / flanges for full pressure
capability.

Figure 1: Diverging sleeve assembly screws are not designed to hold pressure loads. If bench testing,

do not apply pressure to the valve without ANSI flanges (see below figures)

Advisory
Do not operate the valve without proper support for the diverging sleeve. If bench testing the valve, ensure that ANSI
rated flanges are installed over the inlet and discharge flanges with the bolts properly torqued. The diverging sleeve
screws by themselves are not engineered to hold pressure loads. Failure to comply with this warning introduces a
risk of ejecting the sleeve or otherwise damaging the valve, and may result in personal injury.

Copyright © 2019 General Electric Company. This information is proprietary and is the property of GE Power. The content of
this document is provided for general information and awareness. Always refer to your unit's O&M manuals for detailed
information relevant to the operation and maintenance of your equipment. This document shall not be reproduced in whole
or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Power Services Engineering
Please contact your local GE representative for additional information or assistance.

Copyright © 2019 General Electric Company. This information is proprietary and is the property of GE Power. The content of
this document is provided for general information and awareness. Always refer to your unit's O&M manuals for detailed
information relevant to the operation and maintenance of your equipment. This document shall not be reproduced in whole
or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Power Services Engineering
 TECHNICAL BULLETIN

Contacts
For units under warranty or covered under a Contractual Service Agreement (CSA) please refer to your BHGE
Project Manager.

For technical questions or application and commercial requests please contact:

GE BHGE
Customer Service Center
Via Felice Matteucci, 2
50127 Florence, Italy
e-Mail: customer.service.center@bhge.com
Web: https://www.bhge.com/upstream/production-optimization/turbomachinery/rotating-equipment-services
Phone: +39 055 427 2500
Fax: +39 055 423 2800
Please specify the Unit Serial Number and Technical Bulletin associated with the request and whether the
request is technical or commercial.

To directly access and download BHGE Technical Bulletins published on your fleet or to subscribe to our
Technical Bulletin e-mail notification service, please visit the Technical Updates Portal:

https://www.bhge.com/portals/services-portals

This online tool is available only to registered BHGE Customers.

In addition, Customers can update the implementation status of Technical Bulletins applicable to their fleet,
directly for one or multiple serial numbers.
To update the implementation status of Technical Bulletins:
• Log in to the TEN platform - https://www.bhge.com/portals/services-portals
• Go to the “My implementation status” page
• Search by document code or by unit serial number.
• Flag the record(s) to be updated
• Click on “Update Status”.

Expense Policy
The recommendations contained in this Technical Bulletin are for information only. Unless otherwise indicated
in a Contractual Service Agreement (CSA) in force between the parties, a specific Purchase Order must be
agreed and all costs associated with the implementation of the recommendations shall be paid by the
Customer.

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Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie S.r.l. Proprietary Information
The information contained in this Technical Bulletin is confidential and proprietary. This Bulletin and the information contained in it are protected
by copyright and/or other intellectual property rights. This Bulletin and information are provided for authorized use only, and may not be used by
or disclosed to others without the prior express written consent of Nuovo Pignone Tecnologie S.r.l.