Foaming nozzle of a cleaning system for turbine engines

A foaming nozzle for a turbine engine cleaning system, comprising:

• a first axial end and a second axial end;
• an aerating gas inlet formed in the first axial end and configured to receive an aerating gas, wherein the aerating gas inlet is configured to be coupled to a foaming chamber;
• a wall extending from the first axial end to the second axial end and comprising a thickness between an outer surface of the wall and an inner surface of the wall, wherein the outer surface of the wall is configured to contact a detergent in which the foaming nozzle is configured to be disposed, wherein the inner surface of the wall surrounds an inner plenum of the foaming nozzle, and wherein the inner plenum is configured to receive the aerating gas from the aerating gas inlet;
• a first row of first through holes fluidly coupled to, and extending between, a first row of first through hole inlets at the inner surface of the wall and a first row of first through hole outlets at the outer surface of the wall;
• and
• a second row of second through holes disposed axially adjacent to the first row of first through holes with respect to a longitudinal axis of the foaming nozzle, wherein the second row of second through holes is fluidly coupled to, and extending between, a second row of second through hole inlets at the inner surface of the wall and a second row of second through hole outlets at the outer surface of the wall, wherein cross-sections of the first through holes and the second through holes comprise regular shapes, wherein the first through holes and the second through holes are configured to output the aerating gas from the inner plenum into the foaming chamber, wherein the foaming nozzle comprises a head portion positioned above the inner plenum, wherein a plurality of axial through holes extends upwardly from the inner plenum and through a plurality of axial outlets at a top surface of the head portion of the foaming nozzle, wherein the plurality of axial through holes is arranged in at least a first cylindrical column, a second cylindrical column, and a third cylindrical column, and wherein a radial spacing between the first cylindrical column and the second cylindrical column is different than an additional radial spacing between the second cylindrical column and the third cylindrical column.

A turbine engine cleaning system comprising:

• a foaming chamber configured to receive a detergent;
• and
• a foaming nozzle disposed inside the foaming chamber and configured to pass an aerating gas to the foaming chamber to aerate the detergent and generate foam, wherein the foaming nozzle comprises:
• an aerating gas inlet configured to receive the aerating gas;
• a wall comprising a thickness between an outer surface of the wall and an inner surface of the wall, wherein the outer surface of the wall is configured to contact the detergent wherein the inner surface of the wall surrounds an inner plenum of the foaming nozzle, and wherein the inner plenum is configured to receive the aerating gas from the aerating gas inlet;
• a first row of first through holes configured to pass the aerating gas from the inner plenum into the foaming chamber and fluidly coupled to, and extending between, a first row of first through hole inlets at the inner surface of the wall and
• a first row of first through hole outlets at the outer surface of the wall;
• and
• a second row of second through holes configured to pass the aerating gas from the inner plenum into the foaming chamber and disposed axially adjacent to
• the first row of first through holes with respect to a longitudinal axis of the foaming nozzle, wherein the second row of second through holes is fluidly coupled to, and extending between, a second row of second through hole inlets at the inner surface of the wall and a second row of second through hole outlets at the outer surface of the wall, and wherein cross-sections of the first through holes and the second through holes comprise regular shapes;
• and
• a foam delivery assembly coupled to the foaming chamber and configured to route the foam to a turbine engine, wherein the foaming nozzle comprises a head portion positioned above the inner plenum, wherein a plurality of axial through holes extends upwardly from the inner plenum and through a plurality of axial outlets at a top surface of the head portion of the foaming nozzle, and wherein the plurality of axial through holes are arranged in cylindrical columns evenly spaced apart from each other.