GB2516149A

GB2516149A - Apparatus and method for simultaneous cleaning of gas turbine burners

Info

Publication number: GB2516149A
Application number: GB201407353A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harry Lamb
Original assignee: SCORE EUROP Ltd
Current assignee: SCORE EUROP Ltd
Priority date: 2014-04-25
Filing date: 2014-04-25
Publication date: 2015-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2034-04-25
Also published as: GB201407353D0; GB2516149B

Abstract

Cleaning apparatus for simultaneous cleaning of plural gas turbine burners. The cleaning apparatus comprises a hollow steel box section manifold (1) arranged in a plurality of connected rows (6) defining a series of contiguous internal gas flow passages. A gas entrance port (5) on the manifold is connectable to an external source (not shown) of a reactive gas such as oxygen. Upstanding gas exit ports (9) provided on an upper surface of each row extend through corresponding apertures in a steel plate (2). Alignment pins (10) are associated with the gas exit ports (9) and are arranged to mate with corresponding features on a gas turbine burner (30) to be cleaned. In doing so, the gas exit ports (9) are correctly aligned with corresponding gas inlets of each gas turbine burner (see Fig. 3). The gas turbine burners (30) are maintained in position by their own weight and so no separate fixing means are required. The absence of active fixings provides the advantage that the gas turbine burners can be easily separated from the steel plate (2) even after being subjected to high temperatures within a pyrolytic oven.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS CLEANING

OF A PLURALITY OF GAS TURBINE BURNERS

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an apparatus and method for simultaneous cleaning a plurality of gas turbine burners. More specifically the manifold of the invention allows a plurality of gas turbine burners to be passively maintained in position within a pyrolytic oven and correctly aligned to permit simultaneous flushing of their internal surfaces with a reactive gas to remove carbonaceous material.

Background to the invention

Gas turbines are used in industrial settings for generating electrical power. Regular maintenance and repair is required to maintain optimum efficiency and ensure safety standards are met. A programme of maintenance will involve individual component parts of a gas turbine being serviced to keep them operationally effective. The burners (also known as combustors] are a key component of a gas turbine which requires regular maintenance since they are particularly susceptible to carbonaceous build up. Therefore, part of the servicing process involve removal of carbonaceous build up by subjecting burners to a very high dry heat within a pyrolytic oven whist passing a hot reactive gas such as pressurised oxygen through the internal cavities of the burner.

A process for carbonaceous build up removal is known in the art which involves preparing the burner by temporarily fixing various sub plates and pipework arrangements to the gas inlets of a burner. The attached pipework is then connected to a source of heated pressurised oxygen in order to feed the oxygen into the burner. This process has been found to be overly complex and time consuming given the requirement to actively attach sub plates and pipework to individual gas inlets on the burner. A further disadvantage resulting from the space requirements of the sub plates and pipework is that typically only three of four gas turbine burners can be accommodated within a pyrolytic oven at any one time. A further significant disadvantage associated with prior art processes for carbonaceous build up removal is that the sub plates and/or pipework and/or their temporary fixings would expand and become stuck when exposed to the high oven temperatures. The inventor of the present invention has discovered that the use of temporary fixings can result in debris or pickup' being produced which may fuse and/ar melt onto contacting surfaces during the heating process. Consequently, it has been found that damage can be caused to the gas turbine burners and/or the sub plates and pipework as they are being separated.

Accordingly, it is an aim of the present invention to resolve or ameliorate one or more of the aforementioned disadvantages associated with prior art processes for the removal of carbonaceous build up within gas turbine burners.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning apparatus for simultaneous cleaning of a plurality of gas turbine burners, comprising: (i) a hollow steel box section manifold arranged in a plurality of connected rows defining a series of contiguous internal gas flow passages; (ii) a gas entrance port provided on the manifold; (iii) at least one upstanding gas exit port provided on an upper surface of each row; and (iv) at least one alignment pin associated with said at least one upstanding gas exit port, each alignment pin being positioned for alignment with a corresponding alignment feature on a gas turbine burner to be cleaned, wherein the rebtive spatial arrangement between said at least one upstanding gas exit port and its associated alignment pin(s) is such that, in use, cooperation between said alignment pin(s) and an alignment feature on a gas turbine burner to be cleaned ensures correct alignment between each of said at least one upstanding gas exit ports and a corresponding gas inlet of each gas turbine burner to be cleaned.

Advantageously, each gas turbine burner to be cleaned is passively mounted on the manifold simply by placing it thereon in the correct orientation with the aid of alignment pins. The gas turbine burners are maintained in position by virtue of their own weight and so no separate fixing means are required. The absence of active fixings provides the advantage that the gas turbine burners can be easily separated from the manifold even after being subjected to high temperatures within a pyrolytic oven. For example, previous arrangements which incorporate active fixings have resulted in damage to the gas turbine burners and/or manifold parts due to the melting and fusing of small amounts of debris or pickup' on fixing surfaces such as screw threads and the like.

Optionally, each upstanding gas exit port terminates above the upper box section surface of each row by a distance ofbetween 1mm and 5mm.

Advantageously, by arranging the gas exit ports to terminate a small distance above the upper supporting surface of the box section manifold the gas flow can be more reliably introduced into the interior of the turbine burner to be cleaned via its gas inlets. In particular, the upstanding gas exit ports are dimensioned so as to be smaller than a turbine burner's gas inlets, thus allowing the former to be recessed within the entrance of the latter when a turbine burner is mounted on the manifold.

Such an arrangement eliminates, or at least substantially reduces, the likelihood of gas flow leakage around the entrance to a turbine burner's gas inlet. The cross-section of each gas exit port may be individually sized dependent on the pressure requirement of the gas flow being introduced into each gas inlet.

Optionally, a steel plate is connected to the upper box section surfaces, the steel plate comprising an array of spaced apertures through which extends each of said at least one upstanding gas exit ports on the upper box section surface of the manifold.

Advantageously, the steel plate adds structural rigidity to the manifold structure and provides a flat mounting surface which is particularly suitable for supporting gas turbine burners having flat surfaces. The steel plate is thin enough such that each upstanding gas exit port terminates above its upper surface.

Optionally, each alignment pin extends from the upper surface of the steel plate.

Optionally, each hollow steel box section row comprises at least three upstanding gas exit ports.

Optionally, each hollow steel box section row comprises at least three groups of upstanding gas exit ports, each group comprising two or more individual gas exit ports.

Optionally, two alignment pins are associated with each group of upstanding gas exit ports.

Optionally, two alignment pins are associated with each upstanding gas exit port.

Optionally, adjacent hollow steel box section rows are of equal length and are arranged in a spaced parallel relationship relative to one another.

Optionally, opposing distal ends of the respective hollow steel box section rows are connected together by transverse hollow steel box sections, wherein a contiguous internal gas flow passage is defined between each row and each transverse hollow steel box section.

Optionally, each manifold comprises four rows.

Optionally, the apparatus comprises two or more stacked hollow steel box section manifolds spaced by hollow upstanding support members which maintain a contiguous internal gas flow passage between adjacent stacked manifolds.

Advantageously, by stacking multiple manifolds one on top of the other, a larger number of gas turbine burners can be accommodated per unit volume within a pyrolytic oven.

Optionally, an elongate resting surface extends above each hollow steel box section row) and above the upstanding gas exit ports extending therefrom, the resting surface supporting part of gas turbine burners to be cleaned.

Advantageously, such an arrangement is particularly suitable for supporting gas turbine burners without flat surfaces, i.e. gas turbine burners which would be unstable on a flat supporting surface such as a steel plate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for simultaneous cleaning a plurality of gas turbine burners comprising the steps of: (i) providing cleaning apparatus in accordance with the first aspect; (ii) placing one or more gas turbine burners to be cleaned on the apparatus by passively aligning alignment features thereon with corresponding alignment pins on the manifold; (iii) connecting a source of pressurised reactive gas to the gas entrance port; and (iv) introducing a reactive gas into gas inlets of each gas turbine burner whilst simultaneously heating the apparatus in a pyrolytic oven to thereby oxidise and remove carbonaceous material from within each gas turbine burner.

Optionally, the step of connecting a source of pressurised reactive gas to the gas entrance port involved connecting a source of oxygen.

Optionally, the step of heating the apparatus in a pyrolytic oven is performed for a time period of up to four hours.

Advantageously, a heating time of 4 hours represents a significant improvement over the aforementioned prior art methods involving the temporary fixing of various sub plates and pipework arrangements to the gas inlets of a burner. A problem with temporary active fixings, such as screws, is that they expand during the heating process and cannot be easily removed until the entire apparatus is cooled. The necessity for cooling can significantly increase the overall cleaning time) e.g. by up to four hours. The absence of any such temporary active fixings in the present invention means that burners can be immediately removed from the cleaning apparatus when removed from the pyrolytic oven. Ihe throughput and overall efficiency of the present invention is therefore significantly improved.

Optionally, the step of heating the apparatus in a pyrolytic oven is performed at a temperature in the range of 400 to 600 degrees centigrade.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of two stacked manifolds of hollow steel box section manifold, each manifold comprising a steel plate; Fig. 2 shows the stacked manifolds of Fig. 1 in assembled form with a single gas turbine burner placed on its upper level; Fig. 3 shows the gas turbine burner of Fig. 2 in more detail; Fig. 4 shows the contiguous internal gas flow passages within the stacked manifolds of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention whereby a single manifold of hollow steel box section is arranged to support a different type of gas turbine burner; and Fig. 6 shows a detailed view of the connection of a gas turbine burner's gas inlet to the manifold.

Detailed description of the invention

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the invention comprises of a manifold (1) formed from a series of standard hollow steel box section lengths welded together to form a structure having a rectangular shape. A gas entrance port (5) is provided proximate a corner of the rectangular manifold [1]. Four equally sized hollow steel box section lengths extend between opposite sides of the rectangular structure to define four parallel and mutually spaced rows (6). The rows (6) and the outer rectangular structure of the manifold [1] define a series of contiguous and internally interconnected gas flow passages as best shown in Fig. 4 where internal apertures (5, 7) are provided at the junctions of adjoining steel box section lengths. Groups of apertures (8) are formed in an upper surface of each row (6) such that gas introduced into the manifold [1) via gas entrance port (5] can exit the manifold at predetermined locations. The apertures (8) are distributed along the length of each row in three or four groups, each group consisting of three apertures.

Upstanding gas flow tubes [9) are attached to each aperture [8] and serve to raise the exit ports above the upper surface of each row (6) by a distance of between 1mm and 5mm. Such an arrangement facilitates the reliaffle transfer of gas flow from the manifold (1) into gas flow inlets of the gas turbine burners (30) being cleaned. The advantages associated with this arrangement are discussed in detail below. The cross-sectional area of the apertures (8) and/or the exit ports of the upstanding gas flow tubes (9) determine the relative gas flow pressure introduced into gas flow inlets of the gas turbine burners (30). Typically, a gas flow pressure of between 1 and S psi (i.e. 0.07 bar to 0.34 bar] will be sufficient.

Two alignment pins (10] are associated with each group of three upstanding gas exit ports [9). In the illustrated embodiment, the alignment pins (10] are connected to a steeI plate (2) which overlies the manifold structure (1). The steel plate may be connected to the manifold (1) by welding. The steel plate is provided with a series of apertures -most clearly visible in Fig. 1 -positioned to accommodate the upstanding gas exit ports [9) extending from the underlying rows [6). Each pair of alignment pins (10] is positioned relative to the apertures in the steel plate such that correct alignment of the pins (10) with corresponding alignment features of a gas turbine burner (30) will inevitably ensure correct alignment between the upstanding gas exit ports [9] and corresponding gas inlets of the gas turbine burner (30). This is exemplified in Fig. 3.

Two manifolds (1) are stacked one above the other in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 whereby the upper level is supported by four hollow cylindrical support members (13]. Each support member [13) locates onto a hollow locating pin (12) attached to the lower steel plate (2] and/or the lower manifold (1). The previously described contiguous and internally interconnected nature of the gas flow passages is maintained by allowing gas to flow between the two stacked manifolds via the hollow cylindrical support members (13], as best shown in Fig. 4. In a non-limiting example, the gas turbine burner (30] may be approximately 18 to 20 cm in height when measured from its flat base which may measure approximately 7 to 8 cm in width.

In certain circumstances it may be desiraffle to block the gas flow through one or more of the cylindrical support members (13). For example, two of the four hollow locating pins (12] may have their hollow interiors blocked so as to maintain a sufficiently high gas pressure within the lower manifold (1) which would otherwise fall quickly due to the tendency of hot gases to rise rapidly through the internal passages of the stacked apparatus.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 is particularly suitable for simultaneously cleaning multiple gas turbine burners (30) having a flat lower surface as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In use, gas turbine burners of this type are distributed on each manifold (up to fifteen per manifold in the illustrated example) with the aid of the alignment pins (10) to ensure a reliable transfer of gas flow from each manifold into their three gas inlets. The cleaning process typically involves placing the apparatus into a pyrolytic oven for extended periods, e.g. 6 hours. Therefore, by accommodating such a high number of gas turbine burners per unit volume the efficiency of the cleaning process is vastly

improved as compared to prior art processes.

Reliability of the gas flow transfer is ensured by arranging the gas flow exit ports to extend above the upper surface of each steel plate (2) and into the interior of each gas flow inlet on the gas turbine burner. Such an arrangement eliminates or substantially reduces the tendency for gas flow leakage at the point of transfer between the manifold and the gas turbine burner, or worse still, dislodging a burner such that it becomes misaligned on the steel plate (2). Such a leakage or dislodgement would cause a pressure loss throughout the whole system leading to a failure of the cleaning process to effectively remove carbonaceous material.

Importantly, no active fixings are required such that, once correctly aligned, the gas turbine burners [30) are maintained in position on each flat steel plate (2) by virtue of their own weight. The absence of any temporary fixings reduces the amount of unwanted debris or pickup' on the cleaning apparatus caused by repeated tightening and loosening. Consequently, this eliminates or substantially reduces the risk of unwanted adhesion between respective adjoining manifold and burner surfaces caused by fusing or melting of such debris or pickup'.

In the alternative embodiment of Figs. 5 to 7, the manifold (1) is similar to that of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 insofar as multiple equally sized hollow steel box section lengths extend between opposite transverse lengths of the manif&d structure to define ten parallel and mutually spaced rows (6). The rows (6) and the opposing transverse lengths of the manifold [1) define a series of contiguous and internafly interconnected gas flow passages as best shown in Fig. 7 where internal apertures (7] are provided at the junctions of adjoining stee' box section lengths.

Three apertures (8) are formed in an upper surface of each row (6] such that gas introduced into the manifold [1) via gas entrance port (5) can exit the manifold at predetermined locations. The apertures (8) are distributed along the length of each row.

Upstanding gas flow tubes [9) are attached to each aperture [8) and serve to raise the exit ports above the upper surface of each row [6) by a distance of between 1mm and 5mm. Such an arrangement facilitates the reliable transfer of gas flow from the manifold (1) into gas flow inlets of gas turbine burner heads (30). The advantages associated with this arrangement have already been discussed above in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4.

Two alignment pins [10) are associated with each upstanding gas flow tube [9). In the illustrated embodiment, the alignment pins [10) are mounted on different levels of a stepped member connected to each row [6). Each pair of alignment pins [10] is positioned relative to its upstanding gas flow tube [9) such that correct alignment of the pins [10) with corresponding alignment features of a gas turbine burner (30) will inevitably ensure correct alignment between each upstanding gas exit port [9) and a corresponding gas inlet of the gas turbine burner head (30). This is exemplified in Fig. 6.

Three parallel and mutually spaced elongate resting surfaces [11) are supported above, and extend transversely across, each hollow steel box section row [6). The elongate resting surfaces (11) also extend above the alignment pins (10) and the upstanding gas exit ports [9). Parts of the gas turbine burners (30) being cleaned are supported by the elongate resting surfaces (11) as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, whilst the burner heads [30) are supported by the upstanding gas exit ports [9).

It will be appreciated that the arrangement of the embodiment of Figs. 5 to 7 is particularly suitable for simultaneously cleaning multiple gas turbine burners (30) having a complex [i.e. non-flat) shape as shown in Fig 6. In use, gas turbine burners of this type are distributed on each manifold [up to thirty per manifold in the illustrated example) with the aid of the alignment pins [10) to ensure a reliable transfer of gas flow from each manifold into their gas inlets. Reliability of the gas flow transfer is ensured by arranging the gas flow exit ports to extend above the upper surface of each row (6) and into the interior of each gas flow inlet on the gas turbine burner. The other advantages already discussed above in relation to the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4 are equally applicable to the embodiment of Figs. 5 to 7 and so need not be repeated.

Modifications and improvements may be made to the foregoing without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the accompanying claims. In particular, the apparatus may be scaled appropriately depending on the size, type and number of gas turbine burners it is intended to carry. For example, the number and pattern of internal apertures (5, 7] within each manifold; the number and relative spacing of the apertures (8), the number and relative spacing of upstanding gas flow tubes [9], and number and relative spacing of alignment pins (10] will all be dependent upon the design characteristics of the particular gas turbine burner to be cleaned. Furthermore, the length, cross-sectional size and shape of each upstanding gas flow tube [9], alignment pin [10) and resting surface [11) may be adapted to match the design characteristics of the particular gas turbine burner to be cleaned.

The particular arrangement of any stepped member (as shown in Fig. 6) will also vary depending on the unique characteristics of each burner type.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cleaning apparatus for simultaneous cleaning of a plurality of gas turbine burners, comprising: (i] a hollow steel box section manifold arranged in a plurality of connected rows defining a series of contiguous internal gas flow passages; (ii] a gas entrance port provided on the manifold; (iii) at least one upstanding gas exit port provided on an upper surface of each row; and (iv) at least one alignment pin associated with said at least one upstanding gas exit port, each alignment pin being positioned for alignment with a corresponding alignment feature on a gas turbine burner to be cleaned, wherein the r&ative spatial arrangement between said at least one upstanding gas exit port and its associated alignment pin(s) is such that, in use, cooperation between said alignment pin(s) and an alignment feature on a gas turbine burner to be cleaned ensures correct alignment between each of said at least one upstanding gas exit ports and a corresponding gas inlet of each gas turbine burner to be cleaned.
2. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each upstanding gas exit port terminates above the upper box section surface of each row by a distance of between 1mm and 5mm.
3. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a steel plate is connected to the upper box section surfaces, the steel plate comprising an array of spaced apertures through which extends each of said at least one upstanding gas exit ports on the upper box section surface of the manifold.
4. A cleaning apparatus according to daim 3, wherein each alignment pin extends from the upper surface of the sted plate.
5. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim) wherein each hoflow steel box section row comprises at least three upstanding gas exit ports.
6. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim) wherein each hoflow steel box section row comprises at least three groups of upstanding gas exit ports, each group comprising two or more individual gas exit ports.
7. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein two alignment pins are associated with each group of upstanding gas exit ports.
8. A cleaning apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein two alignment pins are associated with each upstanding gas exit port.
9. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein adjacent hollow steel box section rows are of equal length and are arranged in a spaced parallel relationship relative to one another.
10. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein opposing distal ends of the respective hollow steel box section rows are connected together by transverse hollow steel box sections) wherein a contiguous internal gas flow passage is defined between each row and each transverse hollow steel box section.
11. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein) each manifokl comprises four rows.
12. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises two or more stacked hollow steel box section manifolds spaced by hollow upstanding support members which maintain a contiguous internal gas flow passage between adjacent stacked manifolds.
13. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an elongate resting surface extends above each hollow steel box section row, and above the upstanding gas exit ports extending therefrom, the resting surface supporting part of gas turbine burners to be cleaned.
14. A method for simultaneous cleaning of a plurality of gas turbine burners comprising the steps of: (i) providing apparatus in accordance with the first aspect; (ii] placing one or more gas turbine burners to be cleaned on the apparatus by passively aligning alignment features thereon with corresponding alignment pins on the manifold; (iii) connecting a source of pressurised reactive gas to the gas entrance port; and (iv) introducing a reactive gas into gas inlets of each gas turbine burner whilst simultaneously heating the apparatus in a pyrolytic oven to thereby oxidise and remove carbonaceous material from within each gas turbine burner.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of connecting a source of pressurised reactive gas to the gas entrance port involved connecting a source of oxygen.
16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the step of heating the apparatus in a pyrolytic oven is performed for a time period of up to four hours.
17. A method according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the step of heating the apparatus in a pyrolytic oven is performed at a temperature in the range of 400 to 600 degrees centigrade.Amendments to the claims have been made as follows:CLAIMS1. A cleaning apparatus for simultaneous cleaning of a plurality of gas turbine burners, comprising: (i] a hollow steel box section manifold arranged in a plurality of connected rows defining a series of contiguous internal gas flow passages; (ii] a gas entrance port provided on the manifold; (iii) at least one upstanding gas exit port provided on an upper surface of each row) wherein the upper surface is the upper box section surface when the connected rows of the hollow steel box section manifold are oriented horizontally; and (iv) at least one alignment pin associated with said at least one upstanding gas exit port, each alignment pin being positioned for 15 alignment with a corresponding alignment feature on a gas turbine burner to be cleaned, wherein the relative spatial arrangement between said at least one upstanding gas exit port and its associated alignment pin(s) is such that, in use, cooperation Cv') between said alignment pin(s) and an alignment feature on a gas turbine burner to be cleaned ensures correct alignment between each of said at least one upstanding gas exit ports and a corresponding gas inlet of each gas turbine burner to be cleaned.2. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each upstanding gas exit port terminates above the upper box section surface of each row by a distance of between 1mm and 5mm.3. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a steel plate is connected to the upper box section surfaces, the steel plate comprising an array of spaced apertures through which extends each of said at least one upstanding gas exit ports on the upper box section surface of the manifold.4. A cleaning apparatus according to daim 3, wherein each alignment pin extends from the upper surface of the steel plate, wherein the upper surface of the steel plate is the surface opposite the upper box sections.5. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim) wherein each hoflow steel box section row comprises at least three upstanding gas exit ports.6. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim) wherein each hoflow steel box section row comprises at least three groups of upstanding gas exit ports, each group comprising two or more individual gas exit ports.7. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 6, wherein two alignment pins are associated with each group of upstanding gas exit ports.8. A cleaning apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein two alignment pins are associated with each upstanding gas exit port. rCv') 9. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein adjacent hollow steel box section rows are of equal length and are arranged in a spaced parallel relationship relative to one another.10. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein opposing distal ends of the respective hollow steel box section rows are connected together by transverse hollow steel box sections, wherein a contiguous internal gas flow passage is defined between each row and each transverse hollow steel box section.11. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein, each manifold comprises four rows.12. A cleaning apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus comprises two or more stacked hollow steel box section manifolds spaced by hollow upstanding support members which maintain a contiguous internal gas flow passage between adjacent stacked manifolds.13. A cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an elongate resting surface extends above each hollow steel box section row, and above the upstanding gas exit ports extending therefrom, the resting surface supporting part of gas turbine burners to be cleaned.14. A method for simultaneous cleaning of a plurality of gas turbine burners comprising the steps of: (i) providing apparatus in accordance with claim 1; (ii) placing one or more gas turbine burners to be cleaned on the apparatus by passively aligning alignment features thereon with corresponding alignment pins on the manifold; 15 (iii) connecting a source of pressurised reactive gas to the gas entrance port; and (iv) introducing a reactive gas into gas inlets of each gas turbine burner whilst simultaneously heating the apparatus in a pyrolytic oven to Cv') thereby oxidise and remove carbonaceous material from within each gas turbine burner.15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the step of connecting a source of pressurised reactive gas to the gas entrance port involved connecting a source of oxygen.16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the step of heating the apparatus in a pyrolytic oven is performed for a time period of up to four hours.17. A method according to any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the step of heating the apparatus in a pyrolytic oven is performed at a temperature in the range of 400 to 600 degrees centigrade.