TIL 1132-2R1

GE ENERGY SERVICES TECHNOLOGY

CUSTOMER TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
15 DECEMBER 2004

TECHNICAL INFORMATION LETTER

Compliance Category - M
Timing Code - 5

VARIABLE INLET GUIDE VANES - SPRING AND THRUST WASHERS

APPLICATION
MS5001N, MS5001P, MS5001R, MS5002, 6A, 6B, 6F, 6FA, 6FA+e, 7B, 7C, 7E, 7EA, 7F, 7FA, 7FA+e, 9E, 9F, 9FA, and 9FA+e
gas turbines

PURPOSE

To provide guidance on preventing thrust washer corrosion

REASON FOR REVISION

To correct the illustration in TIL 1132-2, showing the proper assembly and orientation of the Variable Inlet Guide
Vanes (VIGV) spring washer

GLOSSARY OF TERMS
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, efficiency, or safety.
Compliance may be required within a specific operating time.

A - Alert / Safety

Failure to comply with the TIL could result in equipment damage, facility
damage, or personal injury. Compliance is mandated within a specific
operating time.

Timing Code
1

Prior to Unit Startup / Prior to Continued Operation (forced outage condition)

At First Opportunity (next shutdown)

Prior to Operation of Affected System

At First Exposure of Component

At Scheduled Component Part Repair or Replacement

Next Scheduled Outage

Optional

COPYRIGHT 2004 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 1132-2R1

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

RECOMMENDATIONS

Variable inlet guide vanes in gas turbines, located at

the air inlet of the compressor, are turned to admit
more or less air to the gas turbine. This is done to
protect the turbine during startup and shutdown and,
in some cases, for maximum thermal efficiency.

For MS7001 and 9001 Units:

The spring washer must be installed in the cup-inward
position as shown in Figure 1. In this manner, the outer
diameter of the spring will press against the casing and
hold the vane outward against the thrust washer.
Wrong assembly (cup-outward) causes a spring force
between the gear and the outer shaft and provides no
thrust washer load against gravity.

A large ring surrounding the compressor inlet casing

carries gear teeth. This is the ring and rack assembly.
These teeth engage the teeth of pinion gears at each
vane so that the vanes are turned when the ring is
rotated about the casing (see Figure 1).
Some units have been assembled with the spring
washers under the pinion gears oriented the wrong
way during maintenance outages, following an earlier
version of this TIL.
There are two (2) spring washer arrangements. One (1)
appears in smaller units (MS5001, 5002, and 6001) and
the other in larger units (MS7001and 9001). In the
smaller units, the spring washer hole is a clearance fit
around the vane main shaft (outer shaft, see Figure 1).
In the larger units, the spring washer hole is a
clearance fit around the gear stub shaft. The washer is
located on the shoulder between the outer shaft and
the pinion gear. If the spring washer is not installed
correctly in the larger units, the vane is not held against
the thrust washer and the weight of the vane and gear
can reduce the x-gap clearance to zero (0) in the upper
half of the unit. In larger units, the cup-inward position
is REQUIRED as shown in Figure 1.
Also, older units with metallic thrust washers are
sensitive to corrosion where the water collects at the
bottom of the inlet. In one case, corrosion products
between the IGV thrust washer and the inlet casing had
forced the IGV radially inward to contact the innersegmented ring. This interference caused excessive
loads during IGV actuation and fracture of a vane near
the vane inner button. The superseding thrust washer
is made of non-metallic material that does not corrode
or expand.

Figure 1:

Spring Washer, Cup-Inward Position

For MS5001, 5002, 6001, and MS6001FA Units:

The spring washer may be installed either way.
However, installation in the cup-outward position is
recommended because this is easier to avoid pinching
the spring washer between the vane outer shaft and
the pinion gear when assembling the gears.

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TIL 1132-2R1
For Older Units with Metallic Thrust Washers:
Inspect for trust washer corrosion at the next
opportunity using the following inspection procedure.

If the IGV x-gap clearance drops below the limit

(whether due to improper spring washer assembly or
thrust washer corrosion), there is an increased risk
of IGV distress. This risk is due to the potential for
the IGVs to bind into the casing, leading to distress
to the post, and rubbing between the vane and the
casing. This wear is increased as the IGVs actuate
open and closed during operation.

NOTE: This procedure should be done with the gas

turbine shut down and the inlet guide vane controls

rendered inoperable. Failure to do so could result in
injury to personnel.

1. Set inlet guide vanes to the Full Open Position.

Based on this wear mechanism, if the x-gap
clearance falls below the limit, it should be corrected
at the first opportunity. If the correction cannot be
performed immediately, initiate a reasonable
frequency of inspection of the IGVs to ensure that no
damage has occurred.

2. Be sure the x-gap locations are clean of dirt, grit,

and rust before proceeding with clearance
measurements. Debris has led to false low readings.
3. Measure x-gap clearances with a feeler gauge to
check for minimum clearances listed in Table 1. Report
any x-gaps below the minimum clearances to your GE
Field Service Representative.
NOTE: If IGV disassembly is required, metallic thrust

washers should be replaced with the superseded nonmetallic thrust washer (see Table 1). Curved spring
washers should be reassembled in the "cup-inward"
orientation on the IGV shaft as shown in Figure 1.
Metallic
Part Number
312A6521P001
312A6521P003

352A6633P003

312A6521P004

352A6633P004

Table 1:

9E
9F
7B
7E
7B/E
7EA
7F
MS5001
MS5002
MS6001

Table 2:

At 4000 fired hours, if turbine is at steady state

base load conditions

Compliance
Compliance Category: M
Timing Code: 5
Manpower Skills
N/A

Metallic Thrust Washers

Parts

Clearances listed in Table 2 are minimum operating

clearances. Normal clearances are shown on the Unit
Clearance Diagram drawing in the Inspection and
Maintenance Manual (typically, Vol. III of the Service
Manual Set). Normal clearances should be restored
whenever VIGVs are accessible.
Frame Size

PLANNING INFORMATION

352A6633P001
352A6633P002

At 2000 fired hours, if the turbine is operated at

varying loads

At base load, the wear on the IGVs is limited due to

minimal fluctuation in IGV position.

Replace with
Non-Metallic Part Number

312A6521P002

Spring Washer: No replacement P/N

Springs: GE 158A7887 or GE / Alsthom
328A7023
Metallic Thrust Washer: Refer to Table 1

Special Tooling
None

Clearance (in inches)

Reference Documents
TILs 1068-2 and 1068-2R1

0.008
0.019
0.008
0.008
0.008
0.008
0.013
0.009
0.009
0.009

Previous Modifications
None
Scope of Work
Inspection of x-gap clearances can be done in
approximately four (4) hours.
Contact your local GE Energy Services representative
for assistance or for additional information.

Minimum X-Gap Clearances

NOTE: If you would like to receive future TILs by email,

contact your local GE Energy Services representative for

assistance.

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TIL 1132-2R1

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)
For Internal Records Only #

TIL COMPLIANCE RECORD

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Turbine Serial Number(s):

TIL Completed Date:

INSTALLED EQUIPMENT

100% TIL Completed:

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If there are any redlined drawings that pertain to this TIL implementation, please FAX the drawings along with
this TIL Compliance Record.

NOTE:

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FAX: (678) 844-3451
Toll free FAX: 1-888-896-TILS (1-888-896-8457)
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TIL 1132-2R1

USER SATISFACTION SURVEY

GE values your opinions and comments.
GE requests that you complete the User Satisfaction Survey below to help us better serve you with accurate and timely
information on your equipment.
Complete the following TIL Compliance Record and FAX it to:
TIL Survey
GE Customer Technology Services
FAX: (678) 844-6737
Toll free FAX: 1-866-604-2668

USER SATISFACTION SURVEY

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+ 10 days

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Rate the following based on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 is Excellent and 5 is Poor.

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