Mobile Wash System “Speeds Up”
Compressor Cleaning
ECT Inc. has recently completed the design and fabrication of a state of the art mobile fluid delivery system for gas turbine cleaning. The unit offers the capability of cleaning gas turbine compressors within two hours of shutdown. This is accomplished by heating the detergent and rinse water to a minimum of 1500 F and thus reducing thermal shock. This temperature is suitable for compressor rotors that have not yet cooled down from operation. Large rotors may require as much as 18 hours to cool down.
The ECT system is designed to provide on-demand mixing of detergent concentrate with deionized/demineralized water to perform efficient on-line cleaning and off-line cleaning of gas turbines, as well as rinsing. The unit is capable of delivering up to 50 gpm of detergent (or rinse water) for off-line cycles and up to 18gpm of detergent for online cycles. It has on-board storage capacity for 650 gallons of water, 100 gallons of detergent, and capable of heating the water from 800 F to 1500 F in less than two hours.
The unit is road-ready at 26 feet long and 7.5 feet wide, allowing easy transport from one station to the next. All fittings, connections, and plumbing components are 300 series stainless steel. The control panel is housed in a stainless steel enclosure and air conditioned for use in tropical locations. ECT’s proprietary control system features an intuitive touchpad Graphical User I Interface (GUI). This interface allows the user to easily adjust flow rates as well as displaying the system status. Other operator information displayed include: the tank level (in gallons) for both water and chemical concentrate, the temperature of the heated fluid, the status of manual valves, the cycle time remaining, the actual process flow rate, process alarms, etc. All system information is prominently displayed for easy reading.
Since gas turbine compressor rotors require regular cleaning in order to maintain maximum efficiency, prevent corrosion, and reduce wear on parts, the system was developed to inject ECT’s R-MC and PowerBack gas turbine compressor detergents through their manifolds. Each ECT manifold consists of highly flexible stainless steel braided interconnect hoses (for easy installation) and custom matched proprietary nozzles. R-MC and PowerBack are both specifically designed to meet OEM material requirements as well as applicable OSHA and EPA guidelines.
ECT has pioneered the development of specialty cleaners and fluid delivery systems for gas turbines since the early 1980’s. The company currently offers cleaning materials and delivery systems for aviation turbines, aeroderivative engines, and heavy-duty frame-size gas turbines.
ECT is a division of Mendit Chemical Co, based in Bridgeport, PA.