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TIL 1251-3
GE ENERGY SERVICES
PRODUCT SERVICE
October 23, 1998

TECHNICAL INFORMATION LETTER

IMPROVED PURGE AIR CHECK VALVE
DESIGN
APPLICABLE TO
MS5000, MS6000, MS7000, MS9000 including
frame sizes B, E, EC, F, FA that are liquid fuel
capable.
PURPOSE
Advise that redesigned purge air check valves are
available. The new design check valves
supersede older design part number
354A1909P004, 354A1909P005 and
354A1909P006.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
Field reports indicate purge air check valves
354A1909 have developed leaks on some units.
Studies of returned check valves by GE and the
manufacturer determined that the side of the
check valve poppet was worn. If the worn poppet
is not corrected, the sealing surface may then
also start to wear. Wearing of the sealing surface
will result in valve leakage. It was further
determined that such wearing can occur in
situations where the poppet wobbles during gas
operation.
To reduce the poppet wobble and the potential for
wearing of the seating surfaces, the purge air
check valve has been redesigned to incorporate
changes to the poppet. In the design which had
leaked (354A1909), the poppet was restrained
with a stamped "cage". The new design
(361A2923) employs a poppet which is guided
through the use of machined clearances at the
front and back. This results in a poppet which is
free to move back and forth, but which can not
wobble.

In addition, the sealing surface of the redesigned

check valve was upgraded from a metal-to-metal
seat to a metal-to-polymer seat. This provides a
seal with minimal initial leakage and one which is
more resistant to contamination. The polymer is
a durable polymide material that is capable of 900
deg F transient exposure.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Remove and inspect purge air check valves for
leaks at the first opportunity when the turbine is
shut down for maintenance and at each
combustion inspection.
For users experiencing back flow leakage
problems, replace existing check valves with new
design check valves. Refer to Table 1 for a listing
of old design check valves and corresponding
new design check valves.
Table 1
PURGE AIR CHECK VALVE
Old Part 354A1909

New Part 361A2923

P004

P001

P005

P002

P006

P003

Notes:
The old and new Purge Air check valves have the same end
connections. No fitting adapters are required for the new check
valves (refer to ML 0918 Purge Arrangement drawing).
Replace O-Ring seals at the end connections as required.

Contact your local GE representative for

assistance and for any additional information on
this subject.

Printed on recycled paper.

TIL Category: D, E, F, G, H, I,
J

COPYRIGHT 1998, 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
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disclaims any responsibility for liability based on claims for damage of any type, i.e. direct, consequential or special that may be alleged to
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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.