ENERGY SERVICES ENGINEERING TIL 1564-R1

PRODUCT SERVICE 17 JULY 2009

Compliance Category – C
Timing Code - 6

TECHNICAL INFORMATION LETTER

HYCOA LUBE OIL TRANSFER VALVES

APPLICATION
Select 6B and 7EA gas turbines.

PURPOSE
To inform users of a potential problem with HYCOA (Hydraulic Company of America) lube oil transfer valve shoes
shipped as part of valve assemblies 351A9512P001 and 362A2300P001.

REASON FOR REVISION

Revised to inform users of additional valve internal parts to inspect and replace, to ensure replacement of all
polyurethane components.
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 1564-R1
BACKGROUND DISCUSSION they could be subject to overheating when the valve
piping was welded.
The lube oil transfer valve is used in two components
within the lube oil system: the coolers and the filters. If the transfer valve seats are degraded and the valve
Both the coolers and the filters have redundant mechanically actuated, there is risk that the
hardware. The purpose of the transfer valve is to allow mechanical movement of the seat could tear portions
on-line change over from one vessel to another, which of the seat material causing damage. See Figure 2
allows cleaning of the cooler tube bundle or changing where the valve is still intact but the material is swollen.
of the lube oil filters. The transfer valve is located This shoe should be replaced.
between the inlet and outlet oil piping on the subject
components. New internal components made of Viton-A have been
developed that are more robust and capable of
There are two valve shoes (seats) which when properly withstanding higher temperatures. These components
positioned will block the oil flow into and out of one are available in a kit from the valve vendor (HYCOA).
vessel, allowing full flow to the other. When it becomes
necessary to switch vessels, a pressure-equalizing
valve is opened equalizing pressure between the two
vessels and the transfer valve is then operated to
switch vessels. Once the valves are seated, the vessel
intended for maintenance can then be depressurized
and drained.

Figure 2: Intact Valve Shoe with Swollen Material

Figure 1: Damaged Valve Shoe

RECOMMENDATIONS
The recommendation to the customers is to avoid
During maintenance, a situation occurred in which, actuation of the transfer valves until replacement
after balancing the pressure between vessels and Viton-A valve shoes are installed. Replacement of the
switching the transfer valve over, the offline vessel valve shoes will require draining of the lube oil filters
could not be depressurized. A subsequent inspection of and coolers. Note that the equalizing valve should be
the transfer valve showed damage to the shoe as seen open to ensure complete drainage. It is also
in Figure 1. recommended that the o-ring, divider plate, and cover
gasket parts be inspected and replaced as necessary
Polyurethane has reliably been used as shoe material with Viton-A made material. See Figure 3.
on these valves for over 30 years. However, recent
experiences have shown that in some cases the
material has failed. Investigations of the failed shoes
showed no chemical issues with the polyurethane;
however, the shoes showed overheating in the area
where the shoe makes contact with the sealing
surface. A Subsequent investigation indicated that
overheating could have occurred when the valve
assembly was installed in the piping system. It was
noted that if the valve shoes were left in the housing,

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.
Page 2 of 4
 TIL 1564-R1
Parts
Co ver Ordering of replacement Viton-A shoes requires direct
gasket contact with the valve vendor, HYCOA (800.544.9262 /
O -ring 724-452-6015). When ordering the shoe customers
should provide the name plate information from the
valve assembly and specify that they are requesting
replacement shoes made from Viton-A, which is GE’s
recommended material. It is also recommended that
the o-ring, divider plate, and cover gasket parts be
inspected and replaced as necessary with Viton-A
D ivider made material.
pla te Sho es
The complete soft parts kit for this valve, with Viton
parts, is 220-2-0048-084. Allow one week for parts
delivery.

Special Tooling
None.

Reference Documents
Figure 3: Transfer Valve Cross-Section Turbine O&M Manual.

Previous Modifications
None.
PLANNING INFORMATION
Compliance Scope of Work
• Compliance Category: C The scope of work to be completed should take
• Timing Code: 6 approximately one day.

Manpower Skills Contact your local GE Service Manager or Contract

Two to three on site mechanical technicians. If you Performance Manager for assistance or for
wish to have the work supervised by a GE additional information.
representative, please contact your local GE Service
Manager or Contract Performance Manager for NOTE: If you would like to receive future TILs by email,
assistance. 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.
Page 3 of 4
 TIL 1564-R1

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.
Page 4 of 4