Cleaning gas turbine compressors

Claim 2

A composition suitable for cleaning a gas turbine compressor on-line, consisting essentially of a mixture of: (A) 4 to 95 percent by weight one or more glycol ethers having the formula RO-[CH(X)-CH(X')-0]n-H where R is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbons, X and X' are each independently hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl, with the provisos that X' is hydrogen when X is methyl or ethyl and that X is hydrogen when X' is methyl or ethyl and n is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5: (B) 0.1 to 14 percent by weight ethylene oxide adducts of fatty acids, alkyl phenols or aliphatic alcohols each having an aliphatic group of 6 to 20 carbons and each having 4 to 15 ethylene oxide units: (C) 0.01 to 6 percent by weight a cationic surfactant; and (D) 0 to 95 percent by weight purified water.

Claim 3

The composition of claim 1 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 80 to about 95 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 14 weight percent, and Component C, from about 0.1 to about 6 weight percent, and the composition is substantially free of water.

Claim 4

The composition of claim 1 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 10 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 0.5 to about 14 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.05 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent.

Claim 5

The composition of claim 3 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 40 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 7 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.2 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent, so that the composition is substantially free of a solid phase at ambient temperatures at below 5° C. to which the composition may be exposed during storage or use.

Claim 6

The composition of claim 1 wherein Component B is a nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ether.

Claim 7

The composition of claim 1 wherein Component C comprises ethylene oxide adducts of monoalkylamines and monoalkyl 1,3-propanediamines having an alkyl group with 10 to 20 carbon atoms with each amine adduct having 2 to 20 ethylene oxide units.

Claim 8

The composition of claim 6 wherein Component C comprises polyoxyethyl coco-amine.

Claim 9

The composition of claim 1 wherein X is hydrogen and n is 1, 2, or 3.

Claim 10

The composition of claim 8 wherein X' is hydrogen or methyl.

Claim 11

The composition of claim 1 wherein Component A is one or more glycol ethers selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol alkyl ethers, diethylene glycol alkyl ethers, triethylene glycol alkyl ethers, propylene glycol alkyl ethers, dipropylene glycol alkyl ethers, tripropylene glycol alkyl ethers, butylene glycol alkyl ethers, dibutylene glycol alkyl ethers, tributylene glycol alkyl ethers, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 12

The composition of claim 10 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 80 to about 95 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 14 weight percent, and Component C, from about 0.1 to about 6 weight percent, and the composition is substantially free of water.

Claim 13

The composition of claim 10 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 10 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 0.5 to about 14 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.05 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent.

Claim 14

The composition of claim 12 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 40 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 7 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.2 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent, so that the composition is substantially free of a solid phase at ambient temperatures at below 5° C. to which the composition may be exposed during storage or use.

Claim 15

The composition of claim 10 wherein Component C comprises ethylene oxide adducts of monoalkylamines and monoalkyl 1,3-propanediamines having an alkyl group with 10 to 20 carbon atoms with each amine adduct having 2 to 20 ethylene oxide units.

Claim 16

The composition of claim 14 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 80 to about 95 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 14 weight percent, and Component C, from about 0.1 to about 6 weight percent, and the composition is substantially free of water.

Claim 17

The composition of claim 14 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 10 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 0.5 to about 14 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.05 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent.

Claim 18

The oomposition of claim 16 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 40 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 7 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.2 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent, so that the composition is substantially free of a solid phase at ambient temperatures at below 5° C. to which the composition may be exposed during storage or use.

Claim 19

The composition of claim 10 wherein Component A comprises at least one of ethylene glycol butyl ether and propylene glycol methyl ether, and dipropylene glycol methyl ether.

Claim 20

The composition of claim 18 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 80 to about 95 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 14 weight percent, and Component C, from about 0.1 to about 6 weight percent, and the composition is substantially free of water.

Claim 21

The composition of claim 18 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 10 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 0.5 to about 14 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.05 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent.

Claim 22

The composition of claim 18 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 40 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 7 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.2 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent, so that the composition is substantially free of a solid phase at ambient temperatures at below 5° C. to which the composition may be exposed during storage or use.

Claim 23

The composition of claim 18 wherein Component C comprises ethylene oxide adducts of monoalkylamines and monoalkyl 1,3-propanediamines having an alkyl group with 10 to 20 carbon atoms with each amine adduct having 2 to 20 ethylene oxide units.

Claim 24

The composition of claim 22 wherein Component B is nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ether and Component C is polyoxyethyl coco-amine.

Claim 25

The composition of claim 10 wherein Component A is a mixture of propylene glycol methyl ether and dipropylene glycol methyl ether.

Claim 26

The composition of claim 24 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 80 to about 95 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 14 weight percent, and Component C, from about 0.1 to about 6 weight percent, and the composition is substantially free of water.

Claim 27

The composition of claim 24 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 10 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 0.5 to about 14 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.05 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent.

Claim 28

The composition of claim 26 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 40 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 7 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.2 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent, so that the composition is substantially free of a solid phase at ambient temperatures at below 5° C. to which the composition may be exposed during storage or use.

Claim 29

The composition of claim 24 wherein Component C comprises ethylene oxide adducts of monoalkylamines and monoalkyl 1,3-propanediamines having an alkyl group with 10 to 20 carbon atoms with each amine adduct having 2 to 20 ethylene oxide units.

Claim 30

The composition of claim 28 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 80 to about 95 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 14 weight percent, and Component C, from about 0.1 to about 6 weight percent, and the composition is substantially free of water.

Claim 31

The composition of claim 28 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 10 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 0.5 to about 14 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.05 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent.

Claim 32

The composition of claim 30 wherein the respective components are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 40 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 7 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.2 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent, so that the composition is substantially free of a solid phase at ambient temperatures at below 5° C. to which the composition may be exposed during storage or use.

Claim 33

The composition of claim 28 wherein Component B is nonyl phenol polyethylene glycol ether and Component C is polyoxyethyl coco-amine.

Claim 34

The composition of claim 32 which consists essentially of the respective components in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 10 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 0.5 to about 14 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.05 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent.

Claim 35

The composition of claim 32 which consists essentially of, by weight, about 30.1 percent propylene glycol methyl ether, about 30.1 percent dipropylene glycol methyl ether, about 4.4 percent nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ether, about 0.4 percent polyoxyethyl coco-amine, and the balance purified water.

Claim 38

The method of claim 35 wherein the contacting step comprises periodically spraying the composition into the inlet of the compressor at a rate sufficient to reduce deposits on the compressor or the blades thereof.

Claim 39

The method of claim 36 which includes an additional step of periodically spraying purified water into the inlet of the compressor at a rate sufficient to further reduce deposits.

Claim 40

The method of claim 35 which includes the steps of providing a concentrated composition consisting essentially of a mixture of (A) one or more glycol ethers having the formula RO-[CH(X)-CH(X')-0].sup.n -H where R is an alkyl group of 1 to 4 carbons, X and X' are each independently hydrogen, methyl, or ethyl, with the provisos that X' is hydrogen when X is methyl or ethyl and that X is hydrogen when X' is methyl or ethyl and n is 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, (B) ethylene oxide adducts of fatty acids, alkyl phenols or aliphatic alcohols each having an aliphatic group of 6 to 20 carbons and each having 4 to 15 ethylene oxide units, and (C) a cationic surfactant, and diluting the mixture with purified water to obtain the cleaning composition, the proportions of Components A, B, and C in the concentrated composition being such that upon dilution, the cleaning composition contains from 4 to 95 percent Component A, from 0.1 to 14 percent Component B, from 0.01 to 6 percent Component C, and from 5 to 95 percent purified water.

Claim 41

The method of claim 35 wherein the respective components in the cleaning composition are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 10 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 0.5 to about 14 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.05 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent.

Claim 42

The method of claim 39 wherein the respective components in the cleaning composition are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 40 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 7 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.2 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent, so that the composition is substantially free of a solid phase at ambient temperatures at below 5° C. to which the composition may be exposed during storage or use.

Claim 43

The method of claim 40 wherein the method is carried out at an ambient temperature below 5° C.

Claim 44

The method of claim 40 wherein the contacting step comprises periodically spraying the cleaning composition into the inlet of the compressor at a rate sufficient to reduce deposits on the compressor or the blades thereof.

Claim 45

The method of claim 42 wherein the method is carried out at an ambient temperature below 5° C.

Claim 46

The method of claim 39 wherein the contacting step comprises periodically spraying the cleaning composition into the inlet of the compressor at a rate sufficient to reduce deposits on the compressor or the blades thereof.

Claim 47

The method of claim 44 which includes an additional step of periodically spraying purified water into the inlet of the compressor at a rate sufficient to further reduce deposits.

Claim 48

The method of claim 44 wherein Component A comprises one or more glycol ethers selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol alkyl ethers, diethylene glycol alkyl ethers, triethylene glycol alkyl ethers, propylene glycol alkyl ethers, dipropylene glycol alkyl ethers, tripropylene glycol alkyl ethers, butylene glycol alkyl ethers, dibutylene glycol alkyl ethers, tributylene glycol alkyl ethers, and mixtures thereof, and Component C comprises ethylene oxide adducts of monoalkylamines and monoalkyl 1,3-propanediamines having an alkyl group with 10 to 20 carbon atoms with each amine adduct having 2 to 20 ethylene oxide units.

Claim 49

The method of claim 46 wherein Component B is a nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ether.

Claim 50

The method of claim 47 which includes the steps of providing a concentrated composition consisting essentially of a mixture of (A) one or more glycol ethers selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol alkyl ethers, diethylene glycol alkyl ethers, triethylene glycol alkyl ethers, propylene glycol alkyl ethers, dipropylene glycol alkyl ethers, tripropylene glycol alkyl ethers, butylene glycol alkyl ethers, dibutylene glycol alkyl ethers, tributylene glycol alkyl ethers, and mixtures thereof, (B) a nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ether, and (C) ethylene oxide adducts of monoalkylamines and monoalkyl 1,3-propanediamines having an alkyl group with 10 to 20 carbon atoms with each amine adduct having 2 to 20 ethylene oxide units, and diluting the mixture with purified water to obtain the cleaning composition, the proportions of Components A, B, and C in the concentrated composition being such that upon dilution, the cleaning composition contains from about 0.5 to about 14 percent Component B, from about 0.05 to about 6 percent Component C, from 60 to 90 percent purified water, and the balance, at least about 10 percent Component A.

Claim 51

The method of claim 48 which includes an additional step of periodically spraying purified water into the inlet of the compressor at a rate sufficient to further reduce deposits.

Claim 52

The method of claim 47 wherein the respective components in the cleaning composition are present in the following amounts, namely, Component A, from about 40 to about 90 weight percent, Component B, from about 1 to about 7 weight percent, Component C, from about 0.2 to about 6 weight percent, and Component D, the balance, with the proviso that the balance is at least about 5 weight percent, so that the composition is substantially free of a solid phase at ambient temperatures at below 5° C. to which the composition may be exposed during storage or use.

Claim 53

The method of claim 50 wherein Component A is a mixture of propylene glycol methyl ether and dipropylene glycol methyl ether and Component C is polyoxyethyl coco-amine.

Claim 54

The method of claim 51 wherein the method is carried out at an ambient temperature below 5° C.

Claim 55

The method of claim 51 wherein the cleaning composition consisting essentially of, by weight, about 30.1 percent propylene glycol methyl ether, about 30.1 percent dipropylene glycol methyl ether, about 4.4 percent nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ether, about 0.4 percent polyoxyethyl coco-amine, and the balance purified water.

Claim 56

The method of claim 53 wherein the method is carried out at least in part at an ambient temperature of from about 5° C. to about -36° C.

Claim 57

The method of claim 53 wherein the method includes a step of exposing the cleaning composition to a cold ambient temperature whereby the temperature of the composition is within the range of from about 5° C. to about -36° C. at least once prior to spraying the composition into the compressor.

Claim 58

The method of claim 47 wherein Component A is a mixture of propylene glycol methyl ether and dipropylene glycol methyl ether and Component C is polyoxyethyl coco-amine.

Claim 59

The method of claim 56 which includes the steps of providing a concentrated composition consisting essentially of a mixture of (A) a mixture of propylene glycol methyl ether and dipropylene glycol methyl ether, (B) a nonylphenol polyethylene glycol ether, and (C) polyoxyethyl coco-amine, and diluting the mxture with purified water to obtain the cleaning composition, the proportions of Components A, B, and C in the concentrated composition being such that upon dilution, the cleaning composition consists essentially of from about 0.5 to about 14 percent Component B, from about 0.05 to about 6 percent Component C, from about 60 to about 90 percent purified water, and the balance at least 10 percent Component A.

Claim 60

The method of claim 57 which includes an additional step of periodically spraying purified water into the inlet of the compressor at a rate sufficient to further reduce deposits.