Mobile on-wing engine washing and water reclamation system

Abstract

A system for on-wing engine washing and water reclamation includes a fluid applicator configured to introduce a cleaning liquid containing at least water into an engine while the engine is being operated, a trough positioned adjacent to the engine, and a collection conduit operatively positioned between an exit end of the engine and the trough to collect an air/liquid effluent mixture leaving the exit end of the engine and deliver at least a portion of the air/liquid effluent mixture to the trough. The collection conduit has an outlet that deposits collected liquid effluent into the trough, and further includes a series of diversion plates positioned within the collection conduit to separate liquid droplets from the air/liquid effluent mixture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for on-wing engine washing and water reclamation, the system comprising:
 a fluid applicator configured to introduce a cleaning liquid containing at least water into an engine while the engine is being operated;   a trough positioned adjacent to the engine; and   a collection conduit operatively positioned between an exit end of the engine and the trough to collect an air/liquid effluent mixture leaving the exit end of the engine and deliver at least a portion of the air/liquid effluent mixture to the trough, the collection conduit having an outlet that deposits collected liquid effluent into the trough, wherein the collection conduit includes a series of diversion plates positioned within the collection conduit to separate liquid droplets from the air/liquid effluent mixture.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning liquid further includes detergent. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid applicator comprises at least one spray nozzle. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid applicator comprises a plurality of nozzles, with a first of the plurality of nozzles injecting cleaning fluid onto a compressor of the engine, and a second of the plurality of nozzles depositing cleaning fluid onto a fan section of the engine. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid applicator comprises a shepherd's hook tool having a spray nozzle. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid applicator comprises means for causing the cleaning liquid to be ingested into at least one of a compressor section and a fan area of the engine. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the series of diversion plates are configured as part of an inertial separation system. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1  and further comprising:
 filtering means for removing solid particulates and oils from liquid effluent collected by the trough. 
 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a water treatment unit that includes a filter; and 
 a pump configured to convey liquid effluent from the trough to the water treatment unit. 
 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1  and further comprising:
 treatment means for removing dissolved solids from liquid effluent collected by the trough. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a cleaning liquid source mounted on a cart. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a mobile unit comprising:
 treating means for treating the collected liquid effluent; and 
 a collection tank configured to store the collected liquid effluent after treatment. 
 
 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12  and further comprising:
 a pump for moving collected liquid effluent from the trough to the treating means. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the series of diversion plates include a plurality of generally planar plates. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the series of diversion plates comprises plates arranged parallel to each other. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein a first and a second of the series of diversion plates are positioned in a non-parallel relationship. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the collection conduit is connected to the engine at or near the exit end of the engine. 
     
     
         18 . A process for on-wing engine washing and water reclamation, the process comprising the steps of:
 initiating operation of an engine;   introducing a cleaning liquid containing at least water into the engine while the engine is operating;   collecting an air/liquid effluent mixture from an exit end of the engine into a collection conduit;   impacting the air/liquid effluent onto a series of diversion plates to cause liquid effluent droplets to fall out of the air/liquid effluent mixture; and   collecting the liquid effluent droplets downstream from the series of diversion plates.   
     
     
         19 . A process according to  claim 18 , wherein the introducing step comprises introducing the cleaning liquid into said engine so that the cleaning liquid flows through at least one of a fan area and a compressor section of the engine. 
     
     
         20 . A process according to  claim 18 , further comprising additional processing of the collected liquid effluent, the additional processing including at least one additional step selected from the group consisting of:
 filtering the collected liquid effluent to remove solid particulates and oils, and   treating the collected liquid effluent to remove dissolved solids.