ASSESSMENT OF THE WASHING EFFECTIVENESS OF ON-PURPOSE DESIGNED ECO-FRIENDLY CLEANER AGAINST SOOT DEPOSITS

Abstract

The increment of the industrialization processes led to even more release of carbonaceous particulate into the environment. These airborne contaminants are produced by endothermic machines, coal combustion, heating systems, and production plants. Soot particles suspended into the air can overpass the inlet filters (if present) of gas turbines and deposit onto the internal parts of the compressor. This phenomenon, leading to the modification of the aerodynamic surface of the airfoils, is the main responsible for the gas turbine performance losses over time. This detrimental effect can be partially recovered by washing the compressor unit, frequently. In this work, the assessment of the washing effectiveness against soot deposits of an on-purpose designed eco-friendly cleaner is provided. The removal effectiveness of this water-based cleaner is related to the capability to collect soot particles from surfaces, limiting redeposit phenomena over the stages. The experimental investigation has been carried out by injecting soot particles, under controlled conditions, into a multistage test axial compressor. Using image post-processing techniques, carried out over the entire compressor flow path, a quantitative evaluation of the washing capability has been assessed. Compared with demineralized water, the cleaner was found to be effective if high cleaning performances are expected.