# US 11,028,727 B2 · Foaming nozzle of a cleaning system for turbine engines

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- Number: US 11,028,727 B2
- Document ID: US11028727B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/727,269
- Filed: 2017-10-06
- Published: 2019-04-11
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2017-10-06
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Applicants: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Ambarish Jayant Kulkarni; Keith Anthony Lauria; Michael Edward Eriksen; Nicole Jessica Tibbetts; Bernard Patrick Bewlay; Byron Andrew Pritchard, Jr.; Shantanu M. Sane
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028727B2

## CPC

- F01D 25/002: {Cleaning of turbomachines}
- B01F 23/23121: {having injection means, e.g. nozzles with circumferential outlet}
- B01F 23/231231: {the outlets being in the form of perforations}
- B01F 23/235: for making foam
- B01F 25/31331: {Perforated, multi-opening, with a plurality of holes}
- B05B 7/0025: {with a compressed gas supply}
- B08B 3/003: {Cleaning involving contact with foam}
- B29C 64/10: Processes of additive manufacturing
- F02C 7/30: Preventing corrosion {or unwanted deposits} in gas-swept spaces
- B01F 23/231265: {being tubes, tubular elements, cylindrical elements or set of tubes}
- B01F 2101/24: Mixing of ingredients for cleaning compositions
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines
- F05D 2260/607: Preventing clogging or obstruction of flow paths by dirt, dust, or foreign particles
- F05D 2300/612: Foam
- Y02T 50/60: Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06)
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- F02C: GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS (construction of turbines F01D; jet-propulsion plants F02K; construction of compressors or fans F04; generating combustion products of high pressure or high velocity F23R; using gas turbines in compression refrigeration plants F25B11/00)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION

## Abstract

A turbine engine cleaning system includes a foaming nozzle. The foaming nozzle includes a wall having a thickness between an outer surface of the wall and an inner surface of the wall. The outer surface of the wall is configured to contact a detergent in which the foaming nozzle is configured to be disposed. The inner surface of the wall surrounds an inner plenum of the foaming nozzle, and the inner plenum is configured to receive an aerating gas. The foaming nozzle also includes 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. The foaming nozzle also includes a second row of second through holes disposed axially adjacent to the first row of second through holes with respect to a longitudinal axis of the inner plenum, where 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. The foaming nozzle also includes cross-sections of the first through holes and the second through holes having regular shapes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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 each first through hole comprises a radial vector and an axial vector, with respect to the longitudinal axis, between the inner surface of the foaming nozzle and the outer surface of the foaming nozzle, and wherein the axial vector is oriented upwardly toward a head portion of the foaming nozzle or downwardly toward a base of the foaming nozzle.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the cross-sections of the first through holes and the second through holes comprise regular circles or regular ellipses, or wherein the cross-sections of the through holes comprise a first portion of cross-sections having regular circles and a second portion of cross-sections having regular ellipses.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the foaming nozzle is additively manufactured such that the cross-sections of the first through holes and the second through holes comprise the regular shapes, and wherein the foaming nozzle comprises a material compatible with a temperature up to 95° C., compatible with an acidic or alkaline detergent, and compatible with organic solvents.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 1, wherein each second through hole extends linearly along a second radial plane between the inner surface and the outer surface and at a second right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 1, wherein each second through hole extends linearly along a second radial plane between the inner surface and the outer surface and at a non-right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 1, wherein each second through hole extends along a second radial plane between the inner surface and the outer surface and at a second non-right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 6, wherein each second through hole extends at the second non-right angle in a counterclockwise direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 6, wherein each second through hole extends at the second non-right angle in the clockwise direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the foaming nozzle comprises the 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.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the foaming nozzle comprises the 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.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the first row of first through holes outlets is disposed between 1 millimeter and 3 millimeters axially away, as measured along the longitudinal axis, from the second row of second through hole outlets.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 1, comprising a third row of third through holes fluidly coupled to, and extending between, a third row of third through hole inlets at the inner surface of the wall and a third row of third through hole outlets at the outer surface of the wall, wherein the third row of third through holes is positioned axially adjacent to the second row of second through holes with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein each second through hole extends linearly along a second radial plane between the inner surface and the outer surface and at a second right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein each third through hole extends linearly along a third radial plane and at a third non-right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the turbine engine cleaning system comprises:
a detergent storage tank configured to store the detergent;
an aerating gas storage tank configured to store the aerating gas; or
any combination thereof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The turbine engine cleaning system of claim 1, wherein the inner plenum comprises an axisymmetric shape.

### Claim 15

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.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The foaming nozzle of claim 15, wherein the cross-sections of the first through holes and the second through holes comprise regular circles or regular ellipses, or wherein the cross-sections of the through holes comprise a first portion of cross-sections having regular circles and a second portion of cross-sections having regular ellipses.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The foaming nozzle of claim 15, wherein each first through hole extends linearly along a first radial plane between the inner surface and the outer surface and at a first right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein each second through hole extends linearly along a second radial plane between the inner surface and the outer surface and at a second right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The foaming nozzle of claim 15, wherein each first through hole extends linearly along a first radial plane between the inner surface and the outer surface and at a first right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein each second through hole extends linearly along a second radial plane between the inner surface and the outer surface and at a non-right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The foaming nozzle of claim 15, wherein each first through hole extends along a first radial plane between the inner surface and the outer surfaced and at a first non-right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis, and wherein each second through hole extends along a second radial plane between the inner surfaced and the outer surface and at a second non-right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The foaming nozzle of claim 19, wherein each first through hole extends at the first non-right angle in a clockwise direction, and wherein each second through hole extends at the second non-right angle in a counterclockwise direction.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The foaming nozzle of claim 19, wherein each first through hole extends at the first non-right angle in a clockwise direction, and wherein each second through hole extends at the second non-right angle in the clockwise direction.

### Claim 22 (depends on 15)

The foaming nozzle of claim 15, wherein each first through hole comprises a radial vector and an axial vector, with respect to the longitudinal axis, between the inner surface of the foaming nozzle and the outer surface of the foaming nozzle.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The foaming nozzle of claim 22, wherein the axial vector is oriented upwardly toward the head portion of the foaming nozzle or downwardly toward a base of the foaming nozzle.

### Claim 24 (depends on 15)

The foaming nozzle of claim 15, wherein the first row of first through hole outlets is disposed between 1 millimeter and 3 millimeters axially away, as measured along the longitudinal axis, from the second row of second through hole outlets.

### Claim 25

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.