A perfectly clean engine with optimum running clearances, performs at its best in the test cell but is rapidly losing that fine edge of performance as it gets contaminated in the field.
Hydrocarbon aerosols, smoke particles, fine dust and salt from the atmosphere adhere to compressor airfoils and reduce compressor flow and pressure ratio with adverse consequences for engine power and fuel consumption. Surface contamination also inhibits heat transfer in internally cooled vanes and blades leading to higher metal temperatures and shorter life in the hottest sections of the engine.
Much of this performance loss can be recovered by water washing. This , however, attacks the symptoms of the disease rather than its cause – the ideal solution is to keep the engine in clean condition to minimize the number of times it is subjected to water washing.
Optimum filtration is always a good investment as the total costs of engine contamination far exceed the cost of keeping the engine clean.
Back to Engine protection.
