26th July 2022

Mr Bakhtiyor Kamalov,
Director of the Center for Implementation of Foreign Investment Projects in
Water Sector under the Ministry of Water Resources.
1A, Labzak Street,
Tashkent 100128,
Republic of Uzbekistan
Tel.: +998-71-241-25-84; +998-7124125-88

Dear Mr Kamalov,
Overhaul Reconditioning of Karshi Cascade of Pumping Stations Project (Phase-III)
Reply to Contractor’s Letter No. SSh-2-22-7-10 of 07th July 2022

The Consultant having reviewed the proposal of the Contractor of Package 1 КМК/СВ/01
“Design, Supply and Installation Supervision of Main Pumping Equipment for Pumping
Stations No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4” in his letter No. SSh-2-22-7-10 of 10.07.2022 regarding the
steel grade, would like to inform that the contract and the bidding documents specify the
manufacture of the impeller using the following steel grade:
- Impeller blade: SS grade 12Х18Н9TL-II;
- Straightening device: steel grade 25 L-II
The steel hardness of the impeller chamber without a special coating of the steel grade
12Х18Н9TL-II is 280HB. This is a mistake in the bidding documents, as according to GOST
2176-77, the steel grade 12Х18Н9TL-II should be 143-156 HB. Therefore, to ensure the
minimum requirement for the steel hardness 280HB incorrectly specified in the bidding
documents, the contractor proposed to replace the steel 12Х18Н9TL-II to stainless
hydroturbine steel grade GX 4 CrNi3-4 with a hardness of 280-320HB, and steel 25L- II to
35CrMo, with a hardness of 250-280HB.
Based on the contractor’s proposal, the Consultant has prepared a comparative table of
technical parameters of the steel of different grade.
Comparative table of technical parameters of the steel of different grade

No Steel 12Х18Н9TL-II Steel Gx4CrNi3-4

.

1 Steel grade 12Х18Н9TL: used for casting Foreign equivalent steel grade Gx4CrNi3-4 has
with special properties in accordance with high wear resistance, strength and corrosion
GOST 2176-77 resistance
Chemical composition: Chemical composition:

AWMc(Tunisia) SARL, Avenue Hédi Nouira, Résidence Said, Bloc B, Étage 4, Appt No. 2, Cité Nasr 2, Ariana, Tunisia
Tél: +216 71 814177 Fax: +216 71 814187 E-mail: awmctunisia@gnet.tn Web: awmc-consultants.com 
 С-12% С-0,06%
Si-0,2%-1% Si-1%
Мn -1%-2% Мn -0,7%
S-0,03% P-0,35%
P-17-20% Ni-3,5%-5,0%
Ti-0,6% Cu-0,3%
Cu-0,3% Fe-82%
Fe-68% Cr-12,0-13,5%
V-0,08%
Alloyed elements have quite high According to percentage, alloyed elements have
corrosion resistance less corrosion resistance

2 Physical properties of the steel grade Physical properties of the steel grade
12Х18Н9TL Gx4CrNi3-4
- Brinnel hardness НВ: 143-156 MPa - Brinnel hardness НВ: 280-310 MPa
- Ultimate bend strength: withstanding; - Density: 7.7 g/cm3
- Ultimate torsional strength: - Thermal conductivity: 26-27 W/m
withstanding;
- Coefficient of expansion: 10.5 – 12.00С
- Differential settlement upon the first
crack appearance Е-1,12 %

3 Mechanical properties of the steel grade Mechanical properties of the steel grade
12Х18Н9TL Gx4CrNi3-4
Resistant to heat treatment Hardening: 1000-10500С.
Hardening: 1060-10700С Low resistance to heat treatment

4 Steel grade 25 L Chinese equivalent steel grade 35 CrМо

Steel grade used for casting in accordance International standard GВ -30-77-88
with GOST 977-88.
The steel is used under high velocity and high
In industry, it used for the parts in load conditions.
accordance with existing average static
and dynamic loads.
Chemical composition:
Chemical composition:
С-0,32-0,4%
С-0,22-0,3%
Si-0,2%-0,52%
Si-0,2%-0,56%
Мn -0,4%-0,9%
Мn -0,35%-0,9%
S-0,045%
S-0,045%
P-0,04%

AWMc(Tunisia) SARL, Avenue Hédi Nouira, Résidence Said, Bloc B, Étage 4, Appt No. 2, Cité Nasr 2, Ariana, Tunisia
Tél: +216 71 814177 Fax: +216 71 814187 E-mail: awmctunisia@gnet.tn Web: awmc-consultants.com 
 P-0,04% Cu-0,3%
Cu-0,3% Fe-97%
Fe-97% Cr-0,3%
Cr-0,3% Ni-0,3%
Ni-0,3%

5 Physical properties of the steel grade 25 L
- Brinnel hardness НВ 124-151 MPa
- Yield strength -Gт-350 N/mm2
-
Tensile strength Gп-550 N/mm2
Weldability of steel – limited welded
Physical properties of the steel grade 35CrMo
- Brinnel hardness НВ: 237-248 MPa
Yield strength Gт- -350-400 N/mm2
Tensile strength - Gп-600-700 N/mm2
Weldability of steel – limited welded

The Consultant’s opinion upon analysis of the comparative table:

1. Steel grade 12х18Н9TL-II:
Chemical composition of alloyed elements has quite high corrosion resistance. Steel
hardness HB 143-156 MPa allows the heat treatment.
2. Steel grade 25 L
Chemical composition: acceptable
Physical properties:
а) Brinnel hardness НВ 124-151 MPa.
b) Weldability of steel – limited welded
3. Steel grade Gx4CrNi3-4
According to percentage, chemical composition of alloyed elements has less corrosion
resistance. Steel hardness НВ-280-310 MPa results in low resistance to heat treatment.
а) Brinnel hardness НВ 237-248 МПа - high

The pumped water content requires special attention with regard to selection of materials
resistant to erosion and corrosion or for the coating of pump parts being in contact to water,
which should be resistant to pumped water containing up to 20 kg/m 3 of foreign substances.
At the pump supply 39 m3/s, diameter of diffuser’s chamber 3200 mm, shaft speed 250 rpm,
the water velocity in the diffuser’s hatch of straightening device is 5.5 m/s. The materials of
the main pump parts being in contact to water, should have enhanced resistance to abrasion
and cavitation. The quality and properties of the main materials should be confirmed by the
manufacturers’ certificates.

AWMc(Tunisia) SARL, Avenue Hédi Nouira, Résidence Said, Bloc B, Étage 4, Appt No. 2, Cité Nasr 2, Ariana, Tunisia
Tél: +216 71 814177 Fax: +216 71 814187 E-mail: awmctunisia@gnet.tn Web: awmc-consultants.com 
 Best regards,

Mahmoud Hadid,
Team Leader/Resident Engineer
cc:
1. Mr. O. Aminov, Project Manager, PIU, Karshi Cascade of Pumping Stations Project
(Phase-III)
2. Mr. Taysir Dabbagh, Project Director, AWMc (Tunisia)

AWMc(Tunisia) SARL, Avenue Hédi Nouira, Résidence Said, Bloc B, Étage 4, Appt No. 2, Cité Nasr 2, Ariana, Tunisia
Tél: +216 71 814177 Fax: +216 71 814187 E-mail: awmctunisia@gnet.tn Web: awmc-consultants.com