GB2032002A

GB2032002A - A device for cleaning a turbine

Info

Publication number: GB2032002A
Application number: GB7933625A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz AG
Current assignee: Kloeckner Humboldt Deutz AG
Priority date: 1978-09-28
Filing date: 1979-09-27
Publication date: 1980-04-30
Also published as: FR2437493B1; NL7907200A; FR2437493A1; DE2842229A1; GB2032002B; DE2842229C2

Abstract

A device for cleaning a turbine, more particularly an exhaust-gas driven turbine connected to the exhaust tail-pipe of an internal combustion engine, comprises a washing nozzle (1) disposed in the tail-pipe wall (2) and having at least one fluid inlet orifice (6) which is supplied via an internal cavity (3) in the nozzle with cleaning fluid, a shut- off valve (4) to control the quantity of fluid supplied, a closure member (7) to close off the fluid inlet orifice (6), a guide rod (8) carrying the closure member (7), a spring (11) to hold the closure member (7) in the closed position, and an electromagnetic and/or pneumatic actuated element (10) to open the guide rod and closure member against the force of the spring. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A device for cleaning a turbine This invention relates to a device for cleaning a turbine, more particularly an exhaust-gas driven turbine connected to the exhaust tail-pipe of an internal combustion engine, the device comprising a washing nozzle disposed in the tail-pipe wall and having at least one nozzle aperture which is supplied via an internal cavity in the nozzle with an amount of cleaning fluid, a shut-off valve to control the quantity of cleaning fluid supplied, a closure member to control the shut-off valve, a guide rod in operative connection with the closure member, and a spring to hold the closure member in the closed position.

In the case of a known device of this kind, there is a representation or description of an injection valve for periodically washing the turbine of an exhaust-gas driven turbosupercharger, in which a closure member in the form of a needle valve prevents sooting of the nozzle aperture. In the known device, the needle valve is connected to a piston, and when the shut-off valve is opened the cleaning fluid or detergent exerts pressure on the piston and thus raises the needle valve and sprays the fluid used for the cleaning operation. In order to end the washing process the shut-off valve is closed, so that the pressure of the detergent in the nozzle cavity drops and the nozzle aperture is blocked by the closure member, since the force of the spring loading the piston is now greater than the pressure in the nozzle cavity.The disadvantage of the aforementioned device for cleaning a turbine is that, although the pressure in the nozzle cavity drops after the nozzle has been shut off by the closure member, nearly the entire nozzle cavity remains full of cleaning fluid, which begins to boil and evaporate owing to the high temperature of the tail-pipe and the washing nozzle. This results in increased corrosion of all parts of the nozzle and in deposits of lime from the water and residues of the detergent added to the water, the deposits forming particularly on the closure member and the associated actuating means. As a result of this defect, the washing nozzle becomes unserviceable after a reiatively short time in operation.

The object of the invention, therefore, is to avoid the aforementioned difficulties and thus accurately guide the washing nozzle without evaporating the cleaning fluid in the nozzle cavity.

This problem is solved according to the invention by providing a device for cleaning a turbine, more particularly an exhaust-gas driven turbine connected to the exhaust tail-pipe of an internal combustion engine, the device comprising a washing nozzle disposed in the tail-pipe wall and having at least one nozzle aperture which is supplied via an internal cavity in the nozzle with a quantity of cleaning fluid, a shut-off valve to control the quantity of fluid supplied, a closure member to control the shut-off valve, a guide rod operatively connected with the closure member, a spring to hold the closure member in the closed position, and an electromagnetic and/or pneumatic actuating element to move the guide rod against the force of the spring.

With this arrangement the nozzle cavity through which the cleaning fluid flows is separated, spatially and in operation, from the means actuating the closure member, thus avoiding problems regarding corrosion and deposits of cleaning fluid on the nozzle actuating means. The actuating element can be disposed at a location in the washing nozzle where it is protected from cleaning additives to the fluid which are corrosive, and it is not exposed to the considerable temperature fluctuations in the exhaust tail-pipe wall. In addition, since the opening and closure times of the closure member are controlled independently of the pressure of the cleaning fluid in the nozzle cavity, the cavity is completely emptied after each cleaning cycle.

The nozzle cavity can be reliably emptied as follows: The control element for the actuating element is operated in common with the shut-off valve for the cleaning fluid, but the delay element is provided for switching off the control element.

In the case of a pneumatic actuating element, the delay element can be a special arrangement of the control piston in the shut-offvalve, relative to its position in the control element. If the control element is electromagnetic, the delay can be brought about by a timing means in the form of a switch which is e.g. damped or delayed at one side.

Alternatively the closure member can be mechanically actuated, if a cable or spindle is connected to the guide rod. The closure member can be adjusted via the spindle, e.g., by means of an angular drive or flexible shaft, alternatively, in accordance with the previously-described embodiments, the closure member can be mechanically controlled in dependence on the position of the shut-off valve.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show two simplified embodiments of the invention. In the drawings: Figure lisa view, half in section, of a washing nozzle according to the invention comprising a closure member in the form of a needle valve; and Figure 2 is a view, half in section, of a washing nozzle according to the invention comprising a closure member in the form of a poppet valve.

Both Figures 1 and 2 diagrammatically show a washing nozzle 1 secured in a pocket, core, nest or the like 2 of an exhaust tail-pipe wall (not shown).

Nozzie 1 has an internal cavity 3 connected at one end by a shut-off valve 4 to a supply means for a cleaning fluid, whereas the other end opens via an aperture 6 into the interior of the tail-pipe.

Outside the cleaning periods, aperture 6 is blocked by a closure member 7 which is in operative connection with a pneumatic actuating element 9 via a guide rod 8. Element 9 comprises a pneumatic control piston 10 which is permanently connected to rod 8 and counteracts the force of a spring 11 when the closure member 7 and guide rod 8 are in the open position. A pressure control chamber 12 is provided on the end face of piston 10 remote from spring 11 and can be connected by a control element 13 to a pneumatic supply device 14.A sealing element 16 having packing washers 1 7 is disposed between cavity 3 and chamber 12, and a leakage oil bore 18 is formed between washers 1 7. Valve 4 and control element 1 3 have a common switching device 15 which couples the two multi-way valves to as to provide a common switching point for the switchingsff valve and the control element 13, i.e., in its position for reducing pressure in chamber 12, compared with the switching-off of the supply of cleaning fluid to cavity 3 by valve 4. If required, element 13 and element 9 can be equipped for an electric control system, in which element 13 is constructed as an electric regulating switch and piston 12 is replaced by a magnet armature for electromagnetic actuation.

Nozzle 1 operates as follows: During the washing process, cleaning fluid flows from the conveyor device 5 through the shut-off valve 4 into the nozzle cavity 3. At the same time, control element 13 is opened and pressure builds up in the pneumatic actuating element 9, thus pushing piston 10 against the force of spring 11 and opening the closure member 7. As a result, cleaning fluid flows through aperture 6 out of cavity 3 and is sprayed into the exhaust tail-pipe, thus removing combustion residues from the exhaust-gas driven turbine. At the end of the cleaning cycle, valve 4 and element 3 move to a position cutting off the supply of fluid to nozzle 1. In this position, member 7 is still open but no fluid is supplied to cavity 3, which is completely emptied. It is only after a delay that element 1 3 reaches a position in which the pressure in the control chamber is reduced, whereupon member 7 closes aperture 6.

This ensures that cavity 3 is always completely empty between washing cycles, so that cleaning fluid cannot evaporate in this region and deposits cannot form in cavity 3, member 7 or aperture 6.

In addition, element 9 is spatially and operatively separated from cavity 3, thus preventing element 9 from being damaged by corrosion or excessive heat.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning a turbine, more particularly an exhaust-gas driven turbine connected to the exhaust tail-pipe of an internal combustion engine, the device comprising a washing nozzle disposed in the tail-pipe wall and having at least one nozzle aperture which is supplied via an internal cavity with a quantity of cleaning fluid, a shut-off valve to control the quantity of fluid supplied, a closure member to control the shut-off valve, a guide rod operatively connected with the closure member, a spring to hold the closure member in the closed position, and an electromagnetic and/or pneumatic actuating element to move the guide rod against the force of the spring.

2. A device according to claim 1, comprising a control piston secured to the guide rod, the control piston being spring-loaded in one direction and movable in the other direction by compressed air from a pressure control chamber connected to a source of compressed air.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising a sealing element having at least two packing washers and disposed between the internal cavity and the pressure control chamber, and leakage oil bores formed between the packing washers.

4. A device according to any preceding claim, in which the shut-off valve has a switching device in common with the control element in operative connection with the actuating element.

5. A device according to claim 4, in which the switching device has a common switching-on point for the shut-off valve and the control element, whereas a delay element is provided for switching off the control element at a different time from the shut-off valve.

6. A device for cleaning a turbine, more particularly an exhaust-gas driven turbine connected to the exhaust tail-pipe of an internal combustion engine, constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.