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ROCHEM Fyrewash Ltd
5-6 Sun Valley Business Park
Winnall Close, Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 0LB
ROCHEM Fyrewash Inc
23707 West Hardy Road
Spring
Texas
77373
09.23.19
Through normal use, your gas turbine compressor accumulates which have a negative impact on efficiency.
Contaminants including salts, hydrocarbons, sand, oil, and grease enter through the air supply and lube system and gradually coat the compressor blades.
This changes the shape of the blades meaning air doesn’t flow through the process compressor as it should.
The inefficient system not only requires more fuel to run but there is an increased risk of damage to your gas turbine if the problem is ignored.
Through a properly implemented cleaning schedule, you can remove foulants before they become a problem. This maintains an efficient system and avoids the costly downtime associated with repairs.
The best practice when it comes to cleaning is to implement a regular schedule which includes both on line and off line cleans. If you keep on top of compressor cleaning, you shouldn’t notice a build-up of foulants.
However, some tell-tale indicators may signal your compressor needs cleaning:
As a rule of thumb, you should clean the compressor before you notice any of the following:
Any of the above is equivalent to a costly 4 - 5% reduction in power output.
Once you’ve decided to clean your compressor, it’s important to use the right products and equipment for a safe, thorough clean.
The chemicals you use should meet the OEM specification and for water soluble deposits and synthetic oils, select a cleaner with a detergent base.
Mineral oils however are best cleaned with a solvent based product.
is a range of specialist chemicals perfectly suited to compressor cleaning with a product designed for the full spectrum of foulant types.
Rochem also design and install the hardware required for on line and off line washes.
to discuss your specific requirements and we can advise and provide the perfect match for your turbine cleaning schedule.
A standard off line wash includes the following:
By following this best practice for off line compressor cleaning you can fully restore 100% recoverable lost performance.
A standard online wash includes the following:
For best results, should complement thorough off line cleans. These ‘little and often’ washes prevent foulants from building up too quickly, maintaining a healthy, efficient compressor.
It’s important to maintain an efficient compressor through a regular cleaning schedule combining off line and on line cleans.
The choice of equipment and detergents plays a big part in achieving the desired results, but once your schedule is implemented, you should enjoy a reliable, productive turbine.
If you’ve got any questions or would like help deciding on the best detergents and equipment for cleaning your gas turbine compressor,
Our friendly, will be happy to discuss your specific requirements.
Post written by Martin Howarth
An extensive knowledge of mechanical and electrical engineering together with hands on experience with gas turbines provides a bedrock for his work at Rochem.
