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TIL 1285-1
GE ENERGY SERVICES
PRODUCT SERVICE
8/11/2000
TECHNICAL INFORMATION LETTER
EVAPORATIVE COOLER
COMMISSIONING PROCEDURE
APPLICABLE TO
7241 GT serial numbers 297114 and greater with
evaporative coolers.
7EA GT serial numbers 297282 and greater with
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
evaporative coolers. Indications of water carryover have been observed with
6B GT serial number 297391 the root cause primarily being installation issues,
including; media installed backwards, inadequate
interlocking of drift eliminators, inadequately installed
flashing, inadequate sealing and gaps in media.
PURPOSE
Sites are recommended to confirm correct evaporative Carryover of water can lead to functional limitations of
cooler installation and commissioning. The compressor components via corrosive contaminants
verification of the installation and commissioning found in the water. Contaminants found in the
should be performed by use of a modified procedure, carryover water can coat the compressor rotor/stator
which has been enhanced based on fleet experience. blades and reduce aerodynamic performance. In
Incorrect installation and commissioning may result in extreme cases, these deposits can lead to
water carryover into the gas turbine. Water carryover compressor blade pitting and stress corrosion
can result in decreased compressor performance due cracking. Continued operation of the evaporative
to compressor blade deposits. cooler is not recommended until inspection and
corrective action is performed.
Incorrec t Correct RECOMMENDATIONS
Inspec tion for proper Sites are instructed to shut down their evaporative
orientaiton can be
done with a pencil. coolers until proper installation is confirmed in
T he 45 degree accordance with the supplier’s installation manual and
pas sages s hould
A ir Flo w point upw ard in the GE commissioning drawing 368A7309. The
direction of flow .
T he 15 degree
commissioning drawing (368A7309) contains two
pas sage should parts. The first part is performed while the turbine is
point dow nward.
shut down and validates the capacity of the drain
system and proper installation of the media. The
second part is performed during gas turbine operation
and functionally validates the operation of the
evaporative cooler equipment.
Note; For some Donaldson and other earlier designed
Gaps be tw een the s ections of m edia allow
coolers, step 2.4.3 can not be performed, as there
Ce lDE K
by pass ing and hav e a greater tendenc y to are no view ports. Lack of visible water carry over will
form drops that can carryo ver
need to be validated via step 2.8 of the
commissioning procedure.
Figure 1 CELdek Media Inspection The commissioning procedure must be performed on
all evaporative coolers at least once a year prior to
each evaporative cooler operating season.
COPYRIGHT 2000, 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.
For assistance in implementing the above
recommendations, contact your local GE Energy
Services representative.