AUTOMATED DETECTION AND CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HIGH PRESSURE WATER WASH APPLICATION AND COLLECTION APPLIED TO AERO COMPRESSOR WASHING

• US 20120103375A1
• Filed: 01/10/2012
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Line Maintenance Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Line Maintenance Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Alvestig, Per G., Nordlund, Sebastian
• Granted Patent: US 9,162,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/56.R
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/14 Removing waste, e.g. labels, from cleaning liquid; Regenerating cleaning liquidstreatment of water in general C02F
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for washing gas turbine engines comprising a manifold comprising one or more tubes; a pumping system for providing pressurized washing liquid to the manifold, the pumping system comprising a pump, and one or more valves; and a control unit for regulating the pumping system according to washing parameters associated to a particular engine.

Claims

1. A system for washing turbine engines comprising:

a washing unit for providing a washing liquid to the turbine engines; and

a control unit for regulating the washing unit according to washing parameters associated to a particular engine wherein the control unit is preprogrammed to include control data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the washing unit further comprises

a manifold comprising one or more tubes;

a pumping system for providing pressurized washing liquid to the manifold, with the pumping system comprising a pump and one or more valves;

one or more nozzles, one each connected to one end of the one or more tubes; and

wherein the control unit regulates the pumping system.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising a hose for connecting the manifold to the pumping system, wherein the pumping system configured to provide forty (40) to eighty (80) bar pressurized washing liquid, and wherein the one or more valves is configured for use in regulating the flow of the pressurized washing liquid.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the control unit is further configured to regulate the flow of pressurized washing liquid.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising an information unit connected to the manifold for providing information relating to said manifold.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising an information detector for reading information provided by the information unit, and for providing said information to the control unit.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the information unit is a manifold identification unit for providing information related to the manifold'"'"'s type.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the information unit is a radio-frequency identification (RFID) unit, and wherein the information detector is a RFID reader.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the information unit further includes information relating to the type of engine desired to be washed.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the information provided by the information detector is used by the control unit to regulate a washing time.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the information provided by the information detector is used by the control unit to select a washing liquid type.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the control unit is a programmed logic controller (PLC), said PLC being configured to washing preparation, washing delivery, fouling collection, used washing liquid treatment, and overall washing effectiveness for use in future optimization of a washing process.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a temperature sensor in communication with the control unit for measuring a temperature of washing liquid, the control unit using the measured temperature for regulating a washing procedure.