What You Need To Know To Keep Your Gas Turbine Clean
Industrial facilities that rely on a gas turbine daily must be prepared to properly maintain this piece of equipment. One of the most important things that you can do to maintain your gas turbine is keep the turbine clean.
A dirty turbine has the potential to wreak havoc on the efficiency of your facility, so take the time to educate yourself on the ins and outs of turbine cleaning to better prepare for ongoing maintenance in the future.
Root Causes of a Dirty Turbine
To begin the cleaning process, you need to know how your gas turbine could potentially become dirty. There are a few primary ways in which dirt and debris find their way into the inner workings of a gas turbine.
Dust and dirt particles that are suspended within the air can easily access your turbine through the inlet valve. These particles will settle on the blades of the turbine over time, eventually compromising compression efficiency. You can install an air filter near the inlet valve to trap these particles before they enter your turbine.
Another way that your turbine could become dirty is through leaks. Oil leaks are of particular concern since these leaks can contaminate the rotor inlet bearing. Perform regular spot checks to identify oil leaks early so they can be repaired before they compromise the efficiency of your gas turbine.
Online Cleaning
Online cleaning is one of the methods that you can use to prevent a buildup of dirt and debris inside your gas turbine. You will inject a mixture of water and a specialized chemical detergent into the inlet valve when performing an online cleaning.
The turbine should be fully operational and under load when an online cleaning occurs. This will allow the turbine to distribute the chemical detergent throughout its major systems for maximum cleaning. If you conduct regular online cleanings, you can extend the time between shutdowns and improve the efficiency of your turbine.
Offline Cleaning
You will occasionally need to completely shut down your gas turbine for a thorough cleaning. This type of cleaning is referred to as offline cleaning since the turbine is not in operation while cleaning takes place.
All of the valves and hoses within the turbine will be cleaned by hand using the same chemical detergent that is used during an online cleaning. Any damaged valves can be replaced, and the turbine can be restored to pristine condition to help extend the life of the machine over time.
A gas turbine cleaner can help you with your cleaning jobs.