MTU Aero Engines is developing an on-wing engine cleaning process that uses carbon dioxide, or “dry ice,” meaning that it can penetrate deep into the engine without leaving residual unlike other cleaning systems.
“We are currently testing the process with airline partners, and so far the tests are extremely encouraging,” says Dr. Stefan Weingartner, CEO of commercial maintenance at MTU Aero Engines.
Speaking at the AVIATION WEEK Engine MRO Forum in Munich, Weingartner explained the benefits of the MTU cleaning concept: “There are a lot of processes that clean from the fan side of an engine. But if it only uses water then the effect is limited, if not zero. Other processes can result in a lot of residuals that have to be disposed of.
“The dry-ice process has a key benefit that it can handle borescope holes, so can clean the later stages of the compressors and turbines. And the dry ice just disappears, which is very beneficial and means there is not residual.”
Weingartner says that airlines in discussion with MTU about the process want guarantees of its tangible benefits. “The airline operators are asking for guarantees with regard to increases in EGT margins, etc,, and we are currently discussing how we can include that in the contracts.”
Although the use of carbon dioxide for engine cleaning is not new – Rolls-Royce evaluated the system some years ago for use at the component level – this is understood to be the first use of process for an on-wing application.
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