Has anyone experience High Spreads and subsequent trips after an Offline Water Wash. We had GE implement phase III of the false start drain modification (smaller drain tubing). Ever since that we occasional get a high spread exhaust spread and trip when we restart after an offline water wash. We have modified our Wash procedure to include a 1 hour crank dry, and a 20 minute or 1150 deg F (exhaust Temp) in Fire mode hold before going to FSNL. We restart the CT within 24 hours after an offline water wash. Has anyone experienced this type of trip or high spread after an offline water wash. What have you done to prevent this from happening.

We had two trips on the same machine after two separate water washes and we found that we were collecting a couple of gallons of water in the 13th stage compressor bleed annulus. There is a cover plate on the bottom of the annulus and we drilled a 3/4 inch hole in the cover and welded in a drain that can be plugged during normal operation. Now prior to the spin dry, we will remove the pipe plug and drain the accumulated water and leave it open during the drying process. Since doing this we have not had another flame out due to water washing.

We have only experienced this trip once after an offline water wash. Besides the extended 1 hour+ crank dry you can also open additional low points from the unit. Make sure all of the water wash drains are 100% open especially the lower manway spool piece since the majority of the waterwash effluent will be exiting from there. Whats important is to try not to inject too much soap to avoid additional rinses. This could push water and soap into your combustion cans which a crank will not help to get all of the moisture out. In addition, the moisture will damage the graphite crossfire packing causing hot CDC air leakage around the tubes. Hand clean the IGVs and R0s before washing...you will see the most return in compressor efficiency by keeping your front blades clean. Start up within 24 hours and before closing the generator breaker, hold it at FSNL for 5-10 minutes so moisture will be able to blow out of the 9th and 13th stage extraction into the exhaust path before the bleed valves are closed and evaporate any stagnant effluent. Im not too sure if parking it at warmup "Fire" mode is recommended (1150degs exhaust at only 14.5% speed!), you should ask GE of the consequences when doing so for an extended period of time.

Good idea to verify the IGV position at the package as well. There have been a string of positioner linkage failures at the heim joint.

We have experianced the same problem with 9E machine.

Try the following the procedure
strat the machine on crank mode
5 minute cranking
select fire
Once flames are stable and exhaust TC readings are stable select AUTO
Go ahead with synch

arao

We start our units within 24 hours of a water wash and hold at FSNL for 10minutes to blow any residual water out prior to closing the bleed valves. there should be low point drains you can remove in the bleed piping to remove additional trapped moisture.
Ankas suggestion to select FIRE will dry any remaining moisture prior to acceleration (in addition to the 1minute warmup. I dont think it will hurt the unit but watch for creeping exhaust temps at low speeds (about 400 rpms).

We also have this problem on our 501F.