System and method for optimized gas turbine compressor cleaning and performance measurement

• US 8,685,176 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2007
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EcoServices, LLC (Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: EcoServices, LLC (Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited)
• Inventors: Wagner, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): OSTERHOUT, BENJAMIN LEE
• Application Number:
  US11/866,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20080173330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,372 Days
• Field of Search: 134/123, 134/169.A, 134/113, 134/56.R
• US Class Current: 134/56.R
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam B08B9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/00 Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto B08B6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/002 Cleaning of turbomachines
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/705 Adding liquids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for optimizing a wash procedure. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system for optimizing a wash procedure. In a first embodiment, a system comprises: means for collecting a sample of fouling, wherein the sample of fouling comprises one or more contaminates; means for identifying the one or more contaminates; and means for selecting one or more washing products for removing the one or more contaminates from a turbine. In an alternate embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method for optimizing a wash procedure. The method comprises: collecting a sample of fouling, wherein the sample of fouling comprises one or more contaminates; identifying the one or more contaminates; and selecting one or more washing products for removing the one or more contaminates from a turbine.

Claims

1. A system of optimizing a wash procedure for a combustion turbine engine, the engine having an engine inlet and an engine outlet, the system comprising:

means for collecting a sample of fouling contained in at least one of a water wash and water rinse sample, that has exited the engine outlet as a result of the washing procedure, wherein the sample of fouling comprises one or more contaminates;

means for identifying the one or more contaminates; and

means for selecting one or more washing products for removing the one or more contaminates from a turbine, wherein the one or more washing products are selected according to a contaminate solubility index of the identified one or more contaminates.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

means for washing the turbine using the selected one or more washing products for a predetermined amount of time.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sample of fouling a physical sample.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the collecting means comprises a solvent.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the collecting means comprises an abrasive paper.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the collecting means comprises a scraper.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifying means comprises a mass spectrometer.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more washing products are commercially available.

9. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

means for collecting a first set of data regarding one or more turbine parameters.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more turbine parameters comprises turbine thrust.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more turbine parameters comprises turbine output.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more turbine parameters comprises turbine pressure.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the one or more turbine parameters comprises fuel flow.

14. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

means for collecting a second set of data regarding one or more ambient conditions.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more ambient conditions includes ambient weather temperature data.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more ambient conditions includes ambient weather humidity data.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more ambient conditions includes ambient weather pressure data.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more ambient conditions includes location data.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more ambient conditions includes season data.

20. The system of claim 14 further comprising:

means for comparing first and second data sets before the turbine is washed with first and second data sets collected after the turbine is washed; and

means for formulating an optimized wash procedure.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a turbine washing unit.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the system controls the turbine washing unit.

23. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

means for formulating a performance trend of the turbine.