Lufthansa Technik develops world's first automated steam cleaning system for engine heat exchangers
Lufthansa Technik AG has put the first automated steam cleaning system for engine heat exchangers in the world into operation. The system is an in-house development that makes it possible to clean all heat exchangers found in common engine types without the use of chemical cleaning agents. The method has already been classified as patentable by the German Patent Office. Not only is it far more capable than the previous practice of cleaning heat exchangers manually; it also saves resources and protects the environment in the true spirit of Green MRO.
Heat exchangers are located in different places in the engine. They make sure the temperature of the air flow through compressor stages, combustion chamber as well as high and low pressure turbines.
The new system can be adjusted particularly to every heat exchanger and its level of contamination. The cleaning process itself is fully automated. All heat exchangers can be completely cleaned in about an hour instead of the average 16 hours it took previously. And after being cleaned, the heat exchangers are as good as new and regain their original performance levels.
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