Power & Energy

The kind of fouling you'll suffer from varies site-to-site depending on the environment. However, you're likely to notice:

• Salts: sea salt, carbonate salts, sulphide salts, iron salts
• Hydrocarbons
• Glycol from antifreeze
• Sand
• Oil from lube systems

Fouling of your gas turbine compressor; reduces efficiency; increases risk of unscheduled shutdowns; can damage equipment; and can cost you millions of pounds in losses over a year.

Yes and we strongly recommend it! However, it’s important to use the right equipment and products.

Yes. Rochem design and manufactures specialist nozzles.

These nozzles produce optimum droplet size distribution and wetting of the compressor inlet to provide effective cleaning of the compressor blades while eliminating potential blade surface erosion.

We use Computational Fluid Dynamics and 3D modelling techniques, together with field testing to continually develop and improve our system efficiency. Our wash delivery systems are designed for ease of use and minimum maintenance whilst providing control of fluid delivery to the on-line and off-line nozzles.

The short answer is likely to be yes. In most cases, Rochem equipment can be retrofitted to gas turbine compressors.

Standard nozzles use NPT or 1-1/2" ANSI/DIN flange connections rated to suit the process application. However, we can manufacture parts for any application.

Many common foulants will be cleansed away with pure water. However, it's worth using a specially designed detergent for a thorough clean. Our range of FYREWASH® chemicals have been made especially for gas turbine compressors and can be used for both on-line and off-line cleaning.

The short answer is 'yes'. At countless sites around the world customers note an increase is power output and decrease in unscheduled shutdowns. The combined increase in revenue and decrease in costs significantly outweighs the expense of equipment and detergents used for cleaning.

A CHP (or cogeneration) unit generates the electricity where it is needed and additionally gives the opportunity to use the excess heat for heating and hot water. This can make CHP more than twice as efficient as conventional power stations - giving you cost savings, reducing emissions and carbon footprint.

Whilst there are a range of different forms of CHP, typically, a gas-powered turbine or reciprocating engine is used to produce electricity, and the heat recovered is used for local water or space heating, or to support an industrial process.

The principle aim of any CHP is to maximise efficiency to support the process.

Rochem's cleaning technology can assist any CHP provide maximum electrical and heat energy using our gas turbine compressor cleaning systems and chemicals ensuring that your gas turbine operates as efficiently as possible while providing minimal impact of our environment.

In spite of the highly sophisticated air cleaning systems available today, ingression of air borne particles into the gas turbine compressor is inevitable.

As a result, fouling of air-path surfaces in the turbines compressor occurs., leading to performance loss and increased fuel consumption.

Worldwide field experience has clearly demonstrated that axial flow compressor deterioration during operation accounts for the major portion of gas turbine-related performance loss.

Of the total gas turbine performance loss approximately 70% can usually be attributed to compressor deterioration due to blade fouling.

Fouling of axial flow compressor blade is generally attributed to airborne particulate in the sub-micron to 10 micron size range and this will the major source of fouling. Another possible source of compressor fouling is oil leakage from the compressor rotor inlet bearing.

Axial flow compressor blading creates smooth airfoil shapes similar to an airplane wing. Consequently, blade performance may deteriorate due to increases in surface roughness or due to shape changes brought by blade deposits.

Blade deposits or fouling reduces both compressor airflow and overall thermal efficiency. In addition to compressor discharge, pressure drops due to the reduced air mass flow rate through the turbine nozzle.

Fouling will therefore be recognised by a drop in turbine output for a given exhaust gas temperature, accompanied by a lower compressor discharge pressure and increase in heat rate resulting in higher fuel consumption. 

• Hand clean - this method is time-consuming, and labour intensive and can lead to a high loss of revenue due to shutdown.
• Abrasive cleaning – in this type of compressor cleaning crushed walnut shells, or similar, are ingested into the air inlet whilst the engine is running. Contaminants are then removed by ‘shot blasting’. However, performance is often short-lived and potential damage to surface coatings and cooling path blockages may result in permanent performance loss.
• Wet cleaning - the most effective and least damaging is to perform a strict washing regime combining on-line and off-line washing using Fyrewash chemicals and treated water.
  • On-line gas turbine compressor cleaning is a performance with the engine running on load. A wash solution is injected into the air inlet using specially designed nozzles to ensure comprehensive wetting of the compressor blades and effective cleaning through the compressor stages.
  • Off line cleaning is performed with the engine shutdown and cranking, and a wash solution is injected into the air inlet using specially designed nozzles to ensure comprehensive wetting of the compressor blades and effective cleaning through the compressor stages.