Gas Turbine Compressor Cleaning via Segmented Low-Pressure Nozzles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas turbine cleaning methods often result in non-uniform cleaning and potential surface damage due to high-pressure cleaning fluid injection, which is inefficient and can harm internal components.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of cleaning fluid injection nozzles at multiple positions within the gas turbine, including sprayers on the strut, inner casing, and vanes, with a controller and hydraulic pressure regulator to manage flow rates and pressures, allowing for localized and efficient cleaning at lower pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If high-pressure cleaning fluid injection is used, then cleaning power is improved, but surface damage and component harm occur
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is segmented into multiple nozzles positioned at different locations (inlet, intermediate, and outlet ends) within the compressor section. Each nozzle delivers cleaning fluid at optimized lower pressure to its specific zone, collectively achieving thorough cleaning without the need for high-pressure injection that would cause surface damage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the compressor receive cleaning fluid with properties optimized for their specific needs. The first nozzle targets the inlet end components, the second nozzle targets intermediate components, and the third nozzle targets the outlet end components. Each location receives appropriate cleaning fluid flow and pressure tailored to its specific cleaning requirements, avoiding uniform high-pressure application that would damage surfaces.
2Productivity
If cleaning fluid is injected at high pressure, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but uniform cleaning is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor cleaning zone is divided into multiple sections with separate nozzles positioned at the inlet end, intermediate positions, and outlet end. Each nozzle delivers cleaning fluid to its specific segment, ensuring that all areas receive adequate cleaning coverage. This segmented approach achieves uniform cleaning across the entire compressor section while maintaining efficient cleaning through coordinated multi-point injection.
3Device complexity
If single-position cleaning nozzle is used, then device complexity is reduced, but cleaning coverage and uniformity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than using a single cleaning nozzle, the system employs multiple nozzles segmented along the axial direction of the compressor. The first nozzle is positioned at the inlet end, the second nozzle at intermediate positions, and the third nozzle at the outlet end. This segmentation provides comprehensive cleaning coverage across all compressor sections while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized nozzle design and positioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables uniform and efficient cleaning of the gas turbine while reducing the risk of component damage, improving cleaning efficiency and extending the service life of compressor components.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of sprayers communicating with a cleaning fluid supply source disposed externally with respect to the casing, each sprayer of the plurality of sprayers disposed at one of the plurality of compressor positions to spray the cleaning fluid in a downstream direction of the working fluid flow space from the one compressor position
Data Source
AI summary
A gas turbine includes a rotational body including a tie rod, a plurality of rotor disks arranged in an axial direction of the tie rod, and a plurality of blades radially arranged on an outer periphery of each rotor disk; a stationary body surrounding the rotational body and defining a working fluid flow space between opposing surfaces of the rotational and stationary bodies, the stationary body including a casing accommodating the rotational body and a plurality of vanes and diaphragms arranged on an inner surface of the casing, the vanes arranged alternately with the blades; and a compressor cleaner disposed at a plurality of compressor positions in the stationary body to spray a cleaning fluid into the working fluid flow space. The compressor positions are separated from each other in the axial direction, and the cleaning fluid is spayed at low pressure to enhance cleaning efficiency while protecting compressor components.