Gas turbine compressor water wash control of drain water purge and sensing of rinse and wash completion

Abstract

A purge drain valve including a spool spliced in a fluid line includes a control valve and an actuator coupled to the control valve for regulating fluid flow. During a washing operation, fluid flows between a supply end and a delivery end of the spool, and during a purging operation, the control valve diverts fluid entering the supply end from the delivery end towards a drain leg. A washing system includes a fluid supply coupled to an input of a wash delivery system and a delivery line coupled to an output of the wash delivery system. The purge drain may be spliced into the delivery line to permit fluid to reach a wash apparatus during a washing operation and to prevent fluid from reaching the wash apparatus during a purging operation. A rinse cycle sensor apparatus may be employed to indicate to an operator if a washing operation is complete based upon a conductivity of fluid exiting from a device being washed.

1 . A washing system comprising:
 a wash delivery system;   a fluid supply coupled to an input of the wash delivery system;   a fluid delivery line coupled at one end to an output of the wash delivery system;   a wash apparatus coupled at an opposite end of the fluid delivery line for receiving wash fluid via the fluid delivery line and injecting the wash fluid into a object desired to be washed; and   a purge drain valve spliced into the fluid delivery line between the wash delivery system and the wash apparatus, the purge drain valve having a drain end;   wherein, during a washing operation, the purge drain valve is operable to permit wash fluid to flow free between the wash delivery system and the wash apparatus; and   wherein during a purging operation, the drain valve is operable to prevent wash fluid from entering the wash apparatus and diverts the wash fluid to the drain end.   
   
   
       2 . The washing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control input coupled to an input of the wash delivery system for transmitting input control signals to the wash delivery system. 
   
   
       3 . The washing system of  claim 2 , further comprising a control output coupled between an output of the wash delivery system and an input of the purge drain valve for transmitting output control signals to the drain valve, the output control signals operable to actuate the purge drain valve. 
   
   
       4 . The washing system of  claim 3 , wherein the wash delivery system generates the output control signals operable to actuate the purge drain valve. 
   
   
       5 . The washing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply coupled to an input of the wash delivery system to provide power to the wash delivery system. 
   
   
       6 . The washing system of  claim 1 , wherein the wash delivery system includes one or more containers for storing fluids for use in the washing operation. 
   
   
       7 . The washing system of  claim 6 , wherein the wash delivery system processes the fluids being stored therein for the washing operation. 
   
   
       8 . The washing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drain collector to collect purged fluids diverted to the drain end. 
   
   
       9 . The washing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a supply valve coupled to the fluid supply, wherein the supply valve is operably opened and closed by the wash delivery system. 
   
   
       10 . The washing system of  claim 1 , wherein during the purging operation, pressurized air flows between the wash delivery system to the purge drain valve. 
   
   
       11 . The washing system of  claim 1 , wherein the wash apparatus comprises a water wash manifold and/or a nozzle assembly. 
   
   
       12 . A rinse cycle sensor apparatus to indicate to an operator completion of a washing operation, the apparatus comprising:
 a conductivity sensor that measures the conductivity of fluid as the fluid exits a device being washed; and   a transmitter coupled to the conductivity sensor to receive conductivity measurements from the conductivity sensor and to transmit the conductivity measurements to a computer system for processing,   wherein the conductivity sensor and the transmitter are disposed within a wash system to obtain conductivity measurements of wash fluid as the wash fluid exits the device being washed.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the conductivity sensor comprises a pre-calibrated conductivity sensor. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the conductivity sensor and the transmitter are mounted within a drain line of the compressor discharge case drain by one of (i) a screw insertion; (ii) a retractable insertion with a ball valve; and (iii) a flow-through design. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the wash fluid comprises used wash fluid containing detergents, contaminants, and fouling. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the conductivity measurements indicate a level of contamination in the wash fluid. 
   
   
       17 . A method for completing a rinse cycle of a device, the method comprising:
 providing a rinse cycle sensor apparatus, comprising:
 a conductivity sensor that measures the conductivity of fluid as the fluid exits the device being washed; and 
 a transmitter coupled to the conductivity sensor to receive conductivity measurements from the conductivity sensor and to transmit the conductivity measurements to a computer system for processing; 
   attaching the rinse cycle sensor apparatus within a drain line of the device being washed to obtain the conductivity measurements of fluid as the fluid exits the device being washed;   receiving the conductivity measurements of the exited fluid; and   analyzing the conductivity measurements of the exited fluid against preset conditions.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein analyzing the conductivity measurements of the exited fluid against preset conditions comprises comparing the conductivity measurements against preset conditions stored in a knowledge base. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the preset conditions indicate at least one of (i) excess detergent in the fluid; (ii) excess contaminates in the fluid; (iii) minimal detergent in the fluid; and (iv) minimal contaminates in the fluid. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the preset conditions are electronically accessible. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising completing the rinse cycle if the analysis of the conductivity measurements satisfies the preset conditions.