ENERGY SERVICES ENGINEERING

PRODUCT SERVICE

TIL 1420-2R1
30 OCTOBER 2007
Compliance Category M
Timing Code - 7

TECHNICAL INFORMATION LETTER

LUBE OIL LOGIC ENHANCEMENT
APPLICATION
All Gas Turbines equipped with Speedtronic Control Mark V or Mark VI.

PURPOSE
To change the Speedtronic Control Panel to protect the turbine bearings following a plant AC power loss by maintaining
the continued operation of the DC lube oil pump.

REASON FOR REVISION

Update to include Frame 5, Frame 6 and Frame 9 turbines.
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)

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 2007 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 1420-2R1

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION
The emergency DC lube oil pump operates in the event
of a loss of AC power supply to the electrically operated
lube oil main pumps or failure of the main mechanical
lube oil pump. This causes a loss of lube oil pressure,
and initiates the emergency DC lube oil pump
operation.
The operation of the emergency DC lube oil pump is
also controlled by the speed feedback signal from the
speed pickups. Upon zero speed detection the DC
pump is stopped due to a perceived turbine shaft
standstill condition. However, an event was reported in
which the loss of speed signal caused the DC lube oil
pump to stop its operation while the turbine shaft was
still rotating. This caused extensive damage to the
bearings.

To implement the enhanced control logic for the lube

oil system, if applicable, please contact your local GE
Service Manager or Contract Performance Manager
(CPM). This updated logic extends operation of the DC
lube oil pumps for 30 minutes following a turbine trip
due to loss of power to the AC pump motor or the loss
of oil pressure from the main lube oil pumps.
Implementation of the new logic will ensure that even if
the speed pickup signal is lost, the DC pumps will
maintain adequate lube oil flow to the bearings for unit
coast down.
Units shipped after 2003 have already implemented
the latest control software and are not affected by this
TIL.

PLANNING INFORMATION
Compliance
Compliance Category: M
Timing Code: 7
Manpower Skills
A qualified GE Controls TA.
Parts
None.
Special Tooling
None.
Reference Documents
None.

Figure 1:

Damaged Bearing

GE has developed new control software to enhance the

operation of the DC lube oil pump. The new control
software extends the operation of the DC lube oil pump
by 30 minutes following a turbine trip due to loss of AC
power or loss of lube oil pressure.
This enhancement ensures that even if the speed
pickup signal is lost, the DC pump will maintain
adequate lube oil flow though the bearings until the
unit is safely brought down to zero speed. The 30
minutes is an estimated maximum time required to
decelerate the unit from rated speed to zero speed.
In addition, the new logic measures all bearing
temperatures and selects the maximum value. The
previous logic measured the temperature at bearing #2
only.

RECOMMENDATIONS
GE recommends that a qualified GE Controls TA review
the existing control sequence at the first opportunity, to
determine if these software upgrades are applicable.

Previous Modifications
None.
Scope of Work
GE Controls TA to perform on-site checks to determine
if a software change is required. If software changes
are required a second trip to site will be required after
the software has been updated, for its installation and
testing. Estimated time: Controls TA - four hours for
each operation. Two hours craft labor required for
post-upgrade testing.
To implement the upgrade, as-running software should
be submitted to GE engineering by Service Manager or
CPM two weeks prior to the required implementation
date. After approximately two weeks the upgraded
software will be returned to the site for implementation
by a qualified GE Controls TA.
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 2007 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 1420-2R1

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)

TIL COMPLIANCE RECORD

Site Name:
Customer Contact Information

For Internal Records Only #

Customer Name:
GE Contact Information

Contact Name:

Contact Name:

Address:

Address:

Email:

Email:

Phone:

Phone:

FAX:
Turbine Serial Number(s):

FAX:

INSTALLED EQUIPMENT

TIL Completed Date:

100% TIL Completed:

Description:

Unit Numbers:

Part Description:

Part Number

MLI Number

Comments:

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

NOTE:

FAX this form to:

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

COPYRIGHT 2007 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 1420-2R1

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 User Satisfaction Survey and FAX it to:
TIL Survey
GE Product Service
FAX: (678) 844-6737
Toll free FAX: 1-866-604-2668

USER SATISFACTION SURVEY

Serial Number:

Date:

1. How many days after TIL issue date did you receive this TIL?

1 - 5 days

6 - 10 days

+ 10 days

NOTE: If you would like to receive future TILs by email, contact your local GE Energy Services representative for assistance.

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

2. Please rate how well this document informed you of the technical issue.

3. Please rate the overall effectiveness of this TIL.

Comments / Suggestions:

FAX this form to:

TIL Survey
Product Service
FAX: (678) 844-6737
Toll free FAX: 1-866-604-2668

COPYRIGHT 2007 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