Spraying water into Air inlet to decarbonise turbo?

T

targa31

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 Apr 2007
Messages
114
Visit site
Seems a bit risky to me but lots of support on the interweb.

theory I believe is water turns to steam which cleans turbo as it passes through?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=izvz18xgfA0

Is there an issue doing this on engines with inter coolers?

No real need to do this just interested. Any views from our experts?
 
The gas turbine engines on Navy frigates and Destroyers were routinely water washed to clean the compressor blades, plus a separate process used a formulation similar to WD40. I guess spraying water into the turbo would do the same thing, but I would be very concerned where the water would then go.

But with a clean air filter, I can't see too much dirt accumulating on the compressor side of a turbo charger to cause a noticeable problem.

I would expect the more likely issue will be build up of carbon on the turbine (hot) side, and spraying in water the engine inlet won't make a damn of difference. Shed lots of steam are produced during the combustion process anyway. Best thing to keep the turbo clean is to work it hard.

I let my engines 'breathe deeply' for the last mike or so before I slow own for the River crawl.
 
"I would expect the more likely issue will be build up of carbon on the turbine (hot) side, and spraying in water the engine inlet won't make a damn of difference. "

Doesn't the water eventually go through the turbine side as steam?
 
targa31 said:
"I would expect the more likely issue will be build up of carbon on the turbine (hot) side, and spraying in water the engine inlet won't make a damn of difference. "

Doesn't the water eventually go through the turbine side as steam?
Click to expand...
The combustion process creates vast quantities of high energy superheated steam, and this will be a substantial element of the hot exhaust gases passing through and driving the turbo anyway, but carbon doesn't dissolve in steam easily. It burns off at high temperature. The water washing process used on gas turbines was only to clean muck off the compressor (air inlet) blades. If this was allowed to build up it disrupts the airflow passing over the blades and can substantially reduce the engines efficiency - much the same way barnacles on a propellor ruin fuel efficiency and power.


I have just watched the video - seemingly this is intended to de-carbonise the engine, not the turbo and I assume this was a naturally aspirated fuel injected petrol engine (i.e. no turbo). I would be interested to know the qualifications of the chap giving this demonstration, after all his methodology for arranging the process does seem somewhat M Mouse. If there was some form of technical paper supporting this technique I might be more convinced,

Never watched such nonsense, and definitely wouldn't buy a secondhand car from him.

Would you really squirt water into you engine inlet as he does ?
 
Last edited:
On the inlet side on a typical turbo charged marine D ,due to the inter cooler , thewater probably is not steam .
As others have said its the exhaust side that cokes up and needs a decoke / Clean now and again .
At a high compression ratio and relative large volume this is where the excess water ( how do you control the quantity ?) will turn to steam -@ combustion -may cool too much and affect injector tip fuel temp = knackered spray nozzles -or Oppersite steam up overheat injectors -basically mess up your precious comman rail injectors tips hanging in this new found steam bath!
Think several 100's of degrees not spot on 100 .So I guess steam @ 600-700 oC round a glowing turbine albeit in the jacket cooled exhaust side may theorectically shift some carbon?
I for sure will not be doing it .
 
Interestingly many early jet airliners (707, DC8) had water injection to help get them off the deck in hot and high conditions. A mixture of water and glycol was injected into the engine at take off as the transformation to steam increased the thrust and as a side effect kept core temperatures down.
Saab also offered a water injection kit on their turbo engines as this increased boost by cooling inlet air temp and increased cylinder pressures to give more power.
Also gas turbine powered Nortech powercats require engine washing after so many engine hours due to the salt laden environment they breathe in.
So water going through turbines is of no consequence or detriment, as to whether it will remove carbon? I would need to see the evidence.
 
targa31 said:
Seems a bit risky to me but lots of support on the interweb.

theory I believe is water turns to steam which cleans turbo as it passes through?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=izvz18xgfA0

Is there an issue doing this on engines with inter coolers?

No real need to do this just interested. Any views from our experts?
Click to expand...

Some makes of turbocharger are renowned for passing oil which does tend to clag up charge air coolers.

The only manufacturer I am aware of which actually advocates turbo wash of charge air cooler is Yanmar and they actually market a liquid for the job http://www.yanmarhelp.com/s_maint.htm

Whilst they say you cannot use washing up liquid cannot see why the Yanmar brew at $70 a pop has more efficacy than Fairey liquid.

Remember this is not decarbonising the engine, diesel engines run far cooler than gasoline engines and do no make hard carbon. Engine must be warm and having some serious tight wire when turbo is getting the treatment.

Used to be regular procedure on large engines to put steam on the turbo every watch to clear out scavenge ports where oil build up resulted in scavenge fires. One ship I was on had Sulzer 8 RND with a single massive Napier turbocharger. I once put steam on the turbo without reading the watch notes properly. Ended up in deep trouble with the Bosun who was painting the aft deck when large black smuts started belching from the funnel and dropping on the still wet deck!

Ho hum.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top