The environmental impact of gas turbine cleaning and how Fyrewash chemicals lead the way

Running a gas turbine has an undeniable impact on the environment, but what about the secondary impact of gas turbine compressor washing? Maintaining clean equipment is essential to the health and output of your equipment, but there are steps you can take to minimise the effect of washing on the immediate and wider environment. Let’s find out more…

Gas turbine cleaning

The build-up of foulants in gas turbine compressors is unavoidable. Contaminants enter via the air supply, lubricants, minerals in cleaning water and internal erosion, interfering with the airflow and reducing efficiency. Without cleaning, gas turbine fouling will lead to lost power, higher fuel usage and ultimately, equipment failure.

Regular cleaning with trusted, specialised cleaning chemicals is the key to maintaining an efficient, reliable turbine. Plus, cleaner gas turbines:

• Burn fuel more completely
• Require less fuel
• Release less greenhouse gases
• Benefit from a longer lifespan of parts

All of which reduce the environmental impact of running the turbine.

Environmental concerns about gas turbine compressor cleaning

While it’s good news that gas turbine cleaning reduces the overall environmental impact of the turbine, it’s also worth considering the impact of the cleaning process itself and how this can be mitigated.

Potential environmental concerns of gas turbine compressor washing include:

Chemical runoff

Cleaning solutions that are not properly disposed of can lead to contamination of soil and water systems. Nonbiodegradable chemicals may also accumulate in the environment.

Water and energy use

Water and energy are both used for cleaning. An inefficient method will waste both these resources.

Wastewater

Wastewater from the cleaning process, carrying chemicals, contaminants and oils, must be disposed of properly otherwise it can pose a risk to aquatic life and other ecosystems.

Airborne emissions

Incomplete rinsing or cleaning at very high temperatures can result in the release of harmful vapours or aerosols.

Eco-friendly gas turbine cleaning chemicals

It is essential to reduce the environmental impact of gas turbine cleaning, and this can be done in two ways:

• Choosing appropriate, specialised cleaning chemicals
• Following the specific guidelines on chemical usage and disposal

At Rochem, we’ve spent decades formulating a range of gas turbine compressor cleaning products which lead the way in eco-friendly cleaning. We are extremely proud of the whole FYREWASH range, which can be used for both off and online turbine cleaning and provides:

• Biodegradable formulations suitable for use in environmentally sensitive and marine environments.
• Non-toxic and non-corrosive products.
• Highly effective cleaning utilising surfactants which effectively remove dirt, keep it in solution and rinse it away. This results in minimal product usage, and reduced wastewater, cleaning residue and waste chemicals.
• Concentrated solutions, minimising carbon emissions in transit.
• Compliance with environmental and industrial standards, such as ISO 14001 and REACH compliance, ensuring safe handling and disposal.

Find out more

You’ve got a lot to think about when running a gas turbine and anything that multitasks on your behalf is an asset.

FYREWASH gas turbine compressor cleaners maintain the lifespan of your equipment while boosting productivity, reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of your turbine by facilitating efficient combustion, and help you meet local environmental legislation regarding wastewater and chemicals.

Our products are proven to be cost-effective and are chosen by thousands of customers around the world. If you’d like to find out more about how our products can help you meet your environmental goals, please get in touch. Our knowledgeable team will be happy to help.