Acoustic Cleaning of Gas Turbine Engine Components
First Claim
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1. A method for cleaning a component of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
- positioning an acoustic emitter at a cleaning location of the component of the gas turbine engine, the cleaning location characterized by having a build-up of foulants; and
emitting, via the acoustic emitter, one or more acoustic waves at a predetermined frequency towards the cleaning location of the component so as to disperse the foulants.
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a method for cleaning gas turbine engine components using an acoustic emitter. More specifically, in one embodiment, the method includes positioning the acoustic emitter at a cleaning location of a component of the gas turbine engine. For example, the cleaning location is typically characterized by having a build-up of foulants on a surface thereof. Thus, the method includes emitting, via the acoustic emitter, acoustic waves at a predetermined frequency towards the cleaning location of the component so as to disperse the foulants.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for cleaning a component of a gas turbine engine, the method comprising:
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positioning an acoustic emitter at a cleaning location of the component of the gas turbine engine, the cleaning location characterized by having a build-up of foulants; and emitting, via the acoustic emitter, one or more acoustic waves at a predetermined frequency towards the cleaning location of the component so as to disperse the foulants. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for cleaning one or more components of a gas turbine engine, the system comprising:
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an acoustic emitter for producing one or more acoustic waves for cleaning the one or more components of the gas turbine engine, the one or more components having a build-up of foulants accumulated on a surface thereof; and a controller communicatively coupled with the acoustic emitter, the controller configured to control a frequency of the acoustic emitter, wherein the acoustic emitter is configured to direct the one or more acoustic waves at a predetermined frequency toward the build-up of foulants on the one or more components so as to disperse the foulants. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A hand-held apparatus for cleaning one or more components of a gas turbine engine, the apparatus comprising:
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an acoustic emitter tube configured to direct one or more acoustic waves towards a cleaning location of the one or more components of the gas turbine engine, the cleaning location characterized by having a build-up of foulants; an articulating guide located at a distal end of the acoustic emitter tube, the articulating guide configured to locate the acoustic emitter tube near the cleaning location; a control unit configured to control the articulating guide; and a handle configured to assist a user in locating the acoustic emitter tube. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification