ENERGY SERVICES ENGINEERING TIL 1703

PRODUCT SERVICE 9 NOVEMBER 2009

Compliance Category – C
Timing Code - 6

TECHNICAL INFORMATION LETTER

9FB LUBE OIL PUMP PERFORMANCE UPGRADE

APPLICATION
9FB heavy-duty gas turbines equipped with main/auxiliary lube oil pumps supplied by Buffalo (pump part number
363A5259P208) or IMO (pump part number 362A4168P004 or 372A5012P004). Single-shaft, combined cycle 9FB units
and units built after March 2009 are not affected by this TIL.

PURPOSE
To inform owners of affected GE 9FB gas turbines to contact their local GE representative for a lube oil pump impeller
replacement to meet performance specifications.
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
7 Optional

COPYRIGHT 2009 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.
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 in
whole or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Energy Services Engineering.
 TIL 1703
BACKGROUND DISCUSSION
The lube oil system delivers lubricating oil to the turbine and generator bearings at a specified pressure. This system
also supplies oil to the hydrogen gas (H2) seals on the generator, maintaining hydrogen gas integrity in the generator
casing. There is a volume / pressure relationship in this system that is a function of the oil pump capability. Lube oil is
pumped through this system using electric motor-driven pumps identified as Main and Auxiliary pumps. These pumps
are identical, with either pump capable of fulfilling either role. The pumps are designed to supply oil to all of the
connected components at a volume sufficient to maintain required pressure. Within the lube oil system there are a
number of components that aid in this functionality.

Figure 1: Lube Oil System

It has recently been determined that the 9FB lube oil system was operating at lower than design flow volume and
pressure. Although this does not pose an immediate risk to the unit, it does result in operation of auxiliary systems at
inappropriate times, as well as lower than expected oil pressures. The RCA investigation has also revealed a higher than
required pressure setting for the bearing oil flow and a need to increase the size of an orifice in the system. Both of
these conditions are compounding factors in the low-pressure condition. These components are shown on Figure 2.
Note that the size for FO-3 is the old specification and does not reflect the change recommended in this notification.

The 9FB oil system was designed for the use of either a Buffalo or IMO pump. As a result, there are different impeller kits
depending on the oil pumps currently installed on the unit. Please refer to the Parts section of this notification for
identification of those applicable impeller kit part numbers.

In addition to the impeller change, system component changes include bearing header pressure regulating valve VPR2-
1 setting is to be revised from 33 psig +/- 2 psig to 29 psig +/- 2 psig and FO-3 sizing increase to 2.36”. Refer to the Parts
section of this notification for proper part number for this orifice plate.

COPYRIGHT 2009 GE
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 in
whole or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Energy Services Engineering.
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 TIL 1703

Figure 2: Lube oil system components to be reset

Failure to follow the recommendations herein will result in continued under-pressure of the lube oil bearing header.
Additionally, the VPR2-1 valve will remain wide open, eliminating any opportunity for system pressure regulation. Many
of the affected units will continue to see operation of the auxiliary seal-oil pump during start-up. This is not a mode of
consistent operation that the system is designed to support and might, over an extended period of time, lead to
increased hydrogen consumption in the generator.

RECOMMENDATIONS
General Electric recommends coordinating with your local GE representative for sourcing and installation of the revised
pump impeller and orifice plate specified in the parts section of this TIL. After installation of the impeller and orifice plate
the VPR2-1 setting should be changed to the documented setting of 29 psig.

Please note that changing the VPR2-1 setting in advance of the impeller and orifice plate change will have no impact on
system performance. Such an action should not be considered as a half step towards improvement of system
performance. Some sites have undertaken mitigation measures in dealing with this issue such as positioning oil
conditioner systems (filters, coolers) in parallel-flow configuration, directing oil through both components. Once the
upgrade described in this notification is implemented these sites should return the flow configuration to standard
design, which is flow through one component with the partner component in a stand-by condition. Units will continue to
experience the described underperformance issues documented here until these recommendations are implemented.
Please contact your local GE service office for assistance in implementation of these recommendations.

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

Manpower Skills
A Minimum of 2 mechanics to work on the oil system components (pumps and orifice), 1 electrician for motor
connections. Qualified crane operator. GE field engineer to supervise the work.

Parts
• Buffalo pump impeller upgrade kit: 362A4529G001
• IMO pump impeller upgrade: 362A4625P001 (impeller) & 362A4265P002 (nameplate)
• Orifice plate part number: 362A4370P022 (2.36" ID)

COPYRIGHT 2009 GE
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 in
whole or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Energy Services Engineering.
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 TIL 1703
NOTE: The orifice plate is the same for both Buffalo and IMO pump systems.

Special Tooling
Regular hand tools for disassembly and assembly. Crane service to remove and install pumps.

Reference Documents
MLI 0416, MLI 0414

Previous Modifications
None

Scope of Work
Removal of lube oil pumps: 24 man-hours
Removal/installation of impeller: 8 man-hours
Installation of lube oil pumps: 24 man-hours
Change out of FO-3 orifice plate: 1 man-hour
Reset VPR2-1 pressure setting: 1 man-hour
GE Field Engineer services: 5 days

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

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

COPYRIGHT 2009 GE
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 in
whole or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Energy Services Engineering.
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 TIL 1703

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)

COPYRIGHT 2009 GE
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 in
whole or in part nor shall its contents be disclosed to any third party without the written approval of GE Energy Services Engineering.
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