Agusta AW139 (AB139): Engine Compressor Wash Cleaning Fluids

Compressor wash cleaning fluids work by breaking down and dissolving the contaminants, allowing them to be flushed out with water during the cleaning process. This helps restore aircraft engine performance, improve fuel efficiency, and reduce the risk of engine damage.

Gas turbine engine compressors ingest a large amount of air. Even when filtered, this air contains contaminants that are deposited on the compressor blades and vanes.

These deposit buildups eventually lead to a reduction in compressor efficiency which, in turn, causes an increase in fuel consumption and exhaust gas temperatures (EGT), as well as reduced power output.

Compressor washing removes these deposits, restoring the aerodynamic profile and efficiency of the compressor.

Demineralized or deionized water is used in gas turbine engines during on-line compressor washing and rinsing. This water must meet the highly demanding specifications of gas turbine engine manufacturers so that it doesn't damage the turbine during its passage through the engine by depositing alkali metals or hard water scales.

When compressor washing and rinsing gas turbine engines at low temperatures, antifreeze should be added to the cleaning fluid to prevent freezing. ZOK recommends using technical-grade (99.5%+ purity) mono-propylene glycol (MPG) as an antifreeze.

In general, glycols are non-corrosive, have very low volatility, and very low toxicity. The addition of an antifreeze agent should always align with the recommendations of the gas turbine OEM.