5 signs it’s time to upgrade your compressor wash skid

A gas turbine compressor wash skid is the heart of an effective compressor cleaning program. It accurately mixes, conditions, and delivers water and cleaning solution during both online and offline compressor washing, helping operators maintain turbine performance and efficiency.

Many wash skids remain in service for decades. While they may still function, aging components, obsolete controls, and declining performance can gradually reduce cleaning effectiveness without operators realizing it.

The result? Compressor cleaning becomes less efficient, maintenance costs increase, and opportunities to improve turbine performance may be lost.

If your wash skid has been in service for many years, here are five signs it may be time for an upgrade.

What is a compressor wash skid?

A compressor wash skid is a self-contained system designed to prepare and deliver cleaning fluid to a gas turbine compressor during on-line or off-line washing.

Typical components include:

• Demineralised water tank
• Wash chemical tank
• Pumps
• Flow meters
• Pressure regulators
• Heaters that warm the cleaning solution to help prevent thermal shock
• Filters
• Control panel
• Hoses and injection manifolds which connect to the compressor’s wash nozzles

Although wash skids often receive less attention than other plant systems, they represent the first stage of an effective compressor cleaning program. As equipment ages, declining performance is often accepted as normal when, in reality, it may be limiting cleaning effectiveness.

Regularly evaluating wash skid performance helps ensure the entire cleaning system continues to operate as intended.

The 5 signs it’s time to upgrade your compressor wash skid

Sign 1: Obsolete components

• Spare parts become increasingly difficult to source
• Older pumps and controls are no longer supported
• Increased risk of unplanned downtime due to equipment failures

When maintaining the existing wash skids becomes more difficult than operating them, an upgrade may be the most cost-effective solution.

Sign 2: Inconsistent flow and pressure

Pay attention to the flow and pressure during cleans:

• Incorrect flow and pressure can reduce cleaning effectiveness
• Unreliable delivery can lead to inconsistent cleaning results
• Repeatability is critical for effective compressor washing

Sign 3: Labour-intensive operation

Modern wash skids are designed to reduce operator involvement while improving process consistency.

Your existing system may need upgrading if operators routinely experience:

• Frequent manual adjustments
• Lengthy wash procedures
• Increased labor requirements during cleaning operations

Greater automation not only improves efficiency but also reduces the potential for operator error.

Sign 4: Limited automation and controls

The beauty of a wash skid is that processes such as accurately diluting cleaning chemicals are automated. If you face the following, you should look at alternative skids:

• Poor integration with modern control systems
• Reduced monitoring and control capabilities
• Less operational flexibility

Sign 5: Your operational requirements have changedPower plant operating strategies continue to evolve, and cleaning programs often change along with them.

If your wash skid was designed many years ago, it may no longer support your current operating requirements, such as:

• Updated compressor cleaning schedules
• Different turbine operating profiles
• New maintenance strategies
• Increased operational flexibility

Reviewing your wash skid alongside your overall cleaning program helps ensure the system continues to meet your plant’s needs.

What makes a modern wash skid different?

At first glance, a wash skid appears to perform a relatively simple task - prepare and deliver a cleaning solution to the compressor. However, modern systems offer significant improvements in reliability, ease of operation, and long-term performance.

Today’s wash skids can provide:

• Custom engineered designs tailored to specific gas turbine models and operating conditions
• Easy installation
• Simple operation
• Proven, reliable technology
• Long service life
• Ongoing technical support

These improvements help operators maintain more consistent cleaning performance while reducing maintenance demands.

Rochem FYREWASH® wash skids

At Rochem FYREWASH®, we believe that gas turbine compressor wash skids should support your chosen cleaning programme, not limit it.

Just as you review plant performance, it’s essential to look at all the contributing factors, down to cleaning schedule, detergents, wash nozzles and wash skids. 

Rochem FYREWASH® wash skids are custom engineered for each customer’s turbine configuration and operating requirements.

Operators typically contact us when they experience increasing maintenance costs, obsolete components, inconsistent wash performance, or the need for improved automation.

Rochem FYREWASH® has supplied thousands of compressor wash skids worldwide across power generation, oil and gas, offshore, and industrial applications.

Features include:

• Custom-designed systems for each application
• Expected service life of 20 to 25 years
• Static or mobile configurations
• Systems capable of servicing multiple gas turbines when required
• Dedicated technical support throughout the equipment’s life

Get in touch

For more than 40 years, Rochem FYREWASH® has specialized in gas turbine compressor cleaning solutions that help operators improve reliability, maximize efficiency, and reduce operating costs.

If you’re evaluating the condition of your existing wash skid or planning an upgrade, our team would be happy to discuss your application and recommend the most effective solution.

Read more about our wash skids here, and please get in touch with any questions.