Turbine engine cleaning systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10005111-B2
Application number	US-201615005096-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2016
Priority date	Jan 25, 2016
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

A system and method of cleaning a turbine engine are provided. The method may include inserting, directing and evacuating a cleaning agent. Inserting may include inserting the cleaning agent through a predefined access port into a cooling cavity defined by an internal wall of an assembled turbine component, while directing may include directing the cleaning agent against the internal wall to remove a foreign material therefrom. Evacuating may include evacuating the cleaning agent from the cooling cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of offline cleaning a turbine engine comprising:
inserting a cleaning agent through a predefined access port into a cooling cavity defined by an internal wall of an assembled turbine component;
directing the cleaning agent against the internal wall to remove a foreign material therefrom; and
evacuating the cleaning agent from the cooling cavity;
wherein evacuating the cleaning agent includes draining the cleaning agent to a gas flow path of the turbine engine from a cooling aperture defined by the turbine component.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein directing the cleaning agent includes flushing the cleaning agent through a volume of the cooling cavity.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning agent includes a fluid for dissolving the foreign material.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning agent includes a solid particulate.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting a cleaning agent includes guiding the cleaning agent through a duct in fluid communication with an outer engine casing, the outer engine casing enclosing at least a portion of the assembled turbine component.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein guiding the cleaning agent further includes guiding the cleaning agent through a mated port into a turbine shroud hanger.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting a cleaning agent includes withdrawing a plug disposed within the predefined access port.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting a cleaning agent includes forcing the cleaning agent through a channel defined about portion of a combustion chamber into an assembled turbine airfoil.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cleaning agent includes a solid particulate.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Eriksen Michael Edward
• Bos Matthew
• Tibbetts Nicole Jessica
• Scheper Michael
• Zeltwanger Eric

Classifications

• F05D2270/11

  to prolong engine life · CPC title

• F05D2220/32

  in gas turbines · CPC title

• F01D25/002 Primary

  Cleaning of turbomachines · CPC title

• F01D5/186

  Film cooling (F01D5/187 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F01D5/081

  Cooling fluid being directed on the side of the rotor disc or at the roots of the blades (F01D5/087 takes precedence) · CPC title