In-situ Turbine Cleaning Fluid with Solvent Additive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning gas turbine components are inefficient, requiring manual scrubbing or submersion in cleaning fluids, leading to increased downtime, labor, and suboptimal surface finishes, as well as the need for disassembly and transportation, which results in prolonged downtime and reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A method and solvent system using a cleaning fluid with a solvent additive, such as calcium long chain alkyl phenate sulfide, applied in-situ to gas turbine components within a cleaning vessel, forming a liquid seal to immerse and agitate the components, effectively removing fouling material while minimizing downtime and labor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual scrubbing and cleaning methods are used, then some fouling material is removed, but the surface finish is not fully restored and the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical scrubbing with an automated in-situ cleaning system that uses a cleaning fluid delivered through a nozzle assembly. The system substitutes human labor with automated fluid delivery and turbine component rotation, achieving both superior surface finish restoration and reduced cleaning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system allows the turbine component to be cleaned in its installed position without disassembly. The component essentially cleans itself by rotating in place while being exposed to the cleaning fluid, eliminating the need for manual intervention and external handling.
2Reliability
If turbine components are disassembled and transported for cleaning, then thorough cleaning can be achieved, but downtime increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables the turbine to clean its own components in-situ without disassembly or external transportation. The cleaning apparatus integrates directly with the turbine assembly, allowing components to be cleaned while remaining in their installed positions, thereby eliminating downtime associated with disassembly and transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning system is designed to be universally applicable to multiple turbine components simultaneously. The nozzle assembly can service multiple rotor blades and stator vanes in a single operation, maintaining cleaning effectiveness while reducing total downtime compared to component-by-component processing.
3Ease of manufacture
If current cleaning fluids and methods are used, then cleaning can be performed, but disassembly and transportation are required which increases cost and downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system simplifies the manufacturing/maintenance process by enabling in-situ cleaning without disassembly. The apparatus integrates directly with the turbine assembly, allowing cleaning operations to be performed seamlessly as part of routine maintenance, thereby maintaining operational simplicity while preserving productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical disassembly and transportation processes with a simplified fluid-based cleaning approach. The nozzle assembly delivers cleaning fluid directly to turbine components in their installed positions, eliminating the need for physical handling and transport, thus maintaining process simplicity while enhancing productivity.
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
The method significantly reduces turbine downtime, increases cleaning efficiency, and improves surface finish quality by allowing in-situ cleaning, decreasing the need for disassembly and transportation, and reducing the cost and time associated with current cleaning processes.
Implementation Method 1
The cleaning fluid comprises a carrier fluid and a solvent additive for removing fouling material from the turbine component
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning method and a cleaning fluid are provided. The cleaning method includes accessing a plurality of turbine components attached to a turbine assembly, the turbine assembly being a portion of a turbomachine, positioning at least one cleaning vessel over at least one of the turbine components, forming a liquid seal with a sealing bladder, providing a cleaning fluid to the cleaning vessel, and draining the cleaning fluid from the cleaning vessel. The cleaning fluid includes a carrier fluid and a solvent additive for removing fouling material from the turbine component. An alternative cleaning method is also provided.