Continental Controls Corp. (CCC) has recently upgraded almost 100 Ruston TB-5000 gas turbines near Villahermosa, Mexico, for Pemex, the state-owned oil company. The upgrades involved integrating Continental Controls' AGV 10 gas fuel valves, AVL 10 liquid fuel valves, and other components into the turbines, primarily used at compression stations along a gas pipeline.

With a core focus on fuel control, CCC collaborated with distributor Grupo Cabrick in Mexico to address issues in Ruston TA 1750 and Ruston TB 5000 gas turbines. Challenges included startup problems due to fuel and ignition system issues. The original fuel system using a Star valve faced maintenance and operational problems, lacking accurate fuel flow verification during startup.

To overcome these challenges, Continental Controls successfully implemented upgrades. The AGV 10 fuel valve upgrade, featuring mass flow measurement, ensured precise fuel flow matching under varying conditions, enhancing startup consistency. The integration of AGV 10 valves with original Rustronic controls introduced a safety control box, overseeing fuel demand and feedback signals to ensure optimal valve operation.

CCC also introduced an advanced high-energy ignition system compatible with both liquid and gaseous fuel-burning TB-5000s, replacing key components for improved reliability. CCC's expertise extends beyond Ruston turbines, offering fuel system upgrades for various gas turbine models, including those by GE, Allison, Solar, and others.