Gas Turbine Fuel Control Valve

[EPC16]

I have a offshore power generation package from Solar Turbines and the unit is Saturn. I need to choose between a Fuel Control Valve made of Aluminium Valve body and Fuel control valve made of Stainless steel Valve body. Can anybody suggest what is suitable and also the pro's and con's.
The package is duel fuel operation in salt laden marine environment with average ambient temperatures of 70 F.

 

[berkshire]

Solar Turbines is located in Dan Diego as close to the ocean as you can get. Have you thought about asking them?
B.E.

The good engineer does not need to memorize every formula; he just needs to know where he can find them when he needs them. Old professor

 

[pmover]

will the fuel of choice have any negative impact on the Al or SST body? What about the environment, any impacts? other than that, I would think that Solar should be furnishing the fuel valve - part of their scope. Solar would ask the same questions . . . SST is certainly more $. how much more $? these saturn fuel valves are not that large . . .

hope this helps.
good luck!
-pmover

 

[EPC16]

Solar have used both Valve bodies. I have had few instances where Solar has recommeneded Aluminium Valve bodies and few offshore projects where they have used Stainless. In this instance, they have left it to us and the client to select the option. Few people in my company have the opinion that Aluminium works better than SS for corrision. However i do not have a good reason to use one over the other.

 

[bcd]

Not sure how exposed the fuel valve is to salt air and mositure. If so, then consider it exposed to seawater. Aluminum is right next to zinc on the cathodic scale, so in the presense of salt water, which is electrically conductive, the aluminum valve body could suffer gross galvanic corrosion. The valve could be anodized and painted which helps, but eventually the salt gets to the Aluminum and the corrosion starts.


I would try to match the valve body material to the pipe material and flanges. If they are carbon or stainless, then go with the stainless valve.

 

[MiketheEngineer]

SS will probably cost 2x or 3x that of AL - but last much longer.

Your call. Ask supplier about expected lives of each..

 

[ScottyUK]

Marine environments are chloride-rich, and for some types of stainless steel that is fatal.