Turboengine water wash system

• US 20080149141A1
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoServices, LLC (Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: EcoServices, LLC (Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited)
• Inventors: Sales, Hubert E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,628,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/0093 At least a part of the apparatus, e.g. a container, being provided with means, e.g. wheels or casters for allowing its displacement relative to the ground
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/166 the material to be sprayed being heated in a container B05B7/208 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/26 Apparatus in which liquids or other fluent materials from different sources are brought together before entering the discharge device B05B7/2402 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/003 Cleaning involving contact with foam
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/026 Cleaning by making use of hand-held spray guns; Fluid preparations therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/08 the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect substances used, see the relevant classes
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/10 with additional treatment of the liquid or of the object being cleaned, e.g. by heat, by electricity or by vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/00 Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/093 by the force of jets or sprays B08B9/0813 , B08B9/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 3/044 Hand-held cleaning arrangements with liquid or gas distributing means B60S3/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03B 1/042 Details thereof, e.g. valves or pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/002 Cleaning of turbomachines
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/323 for aircraft propulsion, e.g. jet engines

Abstract

A system for cleaning gas turbine engines is described. More specifically, methods and apparatuses for cleaning stationary gas turbines and on-wing turbofan engines found on aircraft are disclosed that includes a trailer-mounted, automated low-pressure water delivery system, additive and detergent injection system, nozzle and manifold technology, and active waste water effluent collector system. The system will deliver the liquid cleaning medium at a specific pressure, temperature, and flow rate to optimize the atomization that occurs at the nozzles.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cleaning gas turbine engines, comprising:

means for pressurizing an aqueous wash medium, wherein said means comprises an automated, low-pressure water delivery system operating from about 200 psi to about 725 psi;

means for incorporating additives and/or detergents into the wash medium; and

one or more nozzles for delivering the wash medium into the engine.

5. The apparatus of claims 1 to 4 further comprising:

means for actively, through suction of the engine exhaust airflow, collecting the aqueous wash medium after said medium transverses the engine.

6. The apparatus of claims 1 to 5 further comprising:

means for purging the wash medium from the engine cleaning apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claims 1 to 6 further comprising:

means for controlling the engine cleaning apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claims 1 to 7 further comprising:

a portable power generator that will power the engine cleaning apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claims 1 to 4 wherein said aqueous wash medium is water that has a resistivity of near 18 MegaOhms and contains less than 0.1 parts per million total dissolved solids.

10. The apparatus of claims 1 to 4 wherein said additives and/or detergents are selected from the group consisting of cleaning solutions, foaming agents, detergents, freeze depressant, emulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, and anti-static additives.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for pressurizing an aqueous wash medium comprises:

a tank for holding the aqueous wash medium;

means for heating and maintaining the temperature of the wash medium;

a motor controlled pump;

plumbing from the tank to a motor controlled pump;

a variable frequency drive motor controller; and

plumbing from the pump towards the engine.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said aqueous wash medium is water that has a resistivity of near 18 MegaOhms and contains less than 0.1 parts per million total dissolved solids.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for heating and maintaining the temperature of the wash medium heats and maintains said wash medium to a range from about 150 degrees to about 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for heating and maintaining the temperature of the wash medium comprises tank band heaters.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for heating and maintaining the temperature of the wash medium comprises immersion heaters or panels.

16. The apparatus of claims 11 further comprising:

means for purging the wash medium from the plumbing from the pump towards the engine.

20. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for actively, through suction of the engine exhaust airflow, collecting the aqueous wash medium comprises:

a collection pan;

an air mist eliminator mounted on the collection pan;

a suction fan mounted behind the air mist eliminator that actively pulls the engine exhaust with entrained effluent through the eliminator;

a trough that is connected to the collection pan and extends forward beyond the front of the engine;

a pump mounted on the collection pan; and

plumbing to connect the pump to a holding tank that stores the collected effluent for later processing.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means further comprises a duct that connects the engine exhaust port of an elevated or tail-mounted engine to the front of the air mist eliminator.

22. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said means for purging comprises:

a compressed air source which is activated at the end of the wash cycle to flush the wash medium from the wash delivery pump and plumbing.

24. The apparatus of claims 22 and 23 wherein the compressed air source is instrument-grade compressed air.

25. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said control means is an electronic microprocessor control, feedback, data storage, and application programming system.

2. An apparatus for cleaning gas turbine engines, comprising:

means for pressurizing an aqueous wash medium;

means for incorporating additives and/or detergents into the wash medium, wherein said means comprises injection of additives and/or detergents into the wash medium after pressurization; and

one or more nozzles for delivering the wash medium into the engine.

17. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for incorporating additives and/or detergents into the wash medium comprises:

one or more tanks holding the additives or detergents;

a motor controlled pump for each tank;

plumbing from each tank to its corresponding motor controlled pump; and

plumbing from each pump into the pressurized aqueous wash medium plumbing.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said additives and/or detergents are selected from the group consisting of cleaning solutions, foaming agents, detergents, freeze depressant, emulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, and anti-static additives.

3. An apparatus for cleaning gas turbine engines, comprising:

means for pressurizing an aqueous wash medium;

means for incorporating additives and/or detergents into the wash medium, and

one or more nozzles for delivering the wash medium into the engine, wherein said nozzles are arranged on a manifold array with each nozzle having unique characteristics as to droplet size, flowrate, and dispersion spray pattern.

19. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

means for purging the aqueous wash medium from the manifold array and nozzles.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said means for purging comprises:

a compressed air source which is activated at the end of the wash cycle to flush the wash medium from the manifold array and nozzles.

4. An apparatus for cleaning gas turbine engines, comprising:

means for pressurizing an aqueous wash medium, wherein said means comprises an automated, low-pressure water delivery system operating from about 200 psi to about 725 psi;

means for incorporating additives and/or detergents into the wash medium, wherein said means comprises injection of additives and/or detergents into the wash medium after pressurization; and

one or more nozzles for delivering the wash medium into the engine, wherein said nozzles are arranged on a manifold array with each nozzle having unique characteristics as to droplet size, flowrate, and dispersion spray pattern.

26. An apparatus for cleaning gas turbine engines, comprising:

means for pressurizing an aqueous wash medium, wherein said means comprises an automated, low-pressure water delivery system operating from about 200 psi to about 725 psi;

means for incorporating additives and/or detergents into the wash medium, wherein said means comprises injection of additives and/or detergents into the wash medium;

one or more nozzles for delivering the wash medium into the engine wherein said nozzles are arranged on a manifold array each nozzle having unique characteristics as to droplet size, flowrate, and dispersion spray pattern;

means for actively, through suction of the engine exhaust airflow, collecting the aqueous wash medium after said medium transverses the engine;

means for purging the wash medium from the engine cleaning apparatus;

means for controlling the apparatus for cleaning gas turbine engines; and

a portable power generator that will power the engine cleaning apparatus.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said apparatus is trailer mounted.

28. A method for turbine engine cleaning comprising the steps of:

pressurizing an aqueous wash medium with an automated, low-pressure water delivery system operating from about 200 psi to about 725 psi;

incorporating additives and/or detergents into the wash medium; and

delivering the wash medium into the engine with one or more nozzles, wherein said nozzles are arranged on a manifold array with each nozzle having unique characteristics as to droplet size, flowrate, and dispersion spray pattern.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

actively collecting the aqueous wash medium after said medium tnansverses the engine through suction of the engine exhaust airflow.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

purging the wash medium from the engine cleaning apparatus.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

controlling the engine cleaning apparatus.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

providing a portable power generator that will power the engine cleaning apparatus.

33. An apparatus for cleaning gas turbine engines, comprising:

means for storing an aqueous wash medium;

means for pressurizing an aqueous wash medium;

means for fluid transmission from the storage means to the pressurizing means;

means for incorporating additives and/or detergents into the wash medium, wherein said means comprises injection of additives and/or detergents into the fluid transmission means; and

one or more nozzles for delivering the wash medium into the engine.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein said additives and/or detergents are selected from the group consisting of cleaning solutions, foaming agents, detergents, freeze depressant, emulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, and anti-static additives.