At Rolls-Royce, our commitment to sustainable flight doesn't stop with making our products more efficient: our industry-beating services also have a hugely significant part to play in the pursuit of our net zero goals. In order for today's service solutions to support tomorrow's ambitions, we are constantly evaluating the way in which we support our customers to operate and maintain our products, optimising every tool and process to ensure that each Rolls-Royce engine is the best that it can be. It is in this spirit that the On Wing Specialist Techniques team enter the final stages of introducing a new engine cleaning system, which will change the face of core washing.
Traditional core washing methods require high-pressure cleaning fluids to be driven through the engine to ensure 360-degree coverage. Cowls must be opened, and pipes closed to prevent them from filling with contaminated water. Post-wash ground runs are required, and on many engine types further cabin bleed system maintenance on subsequent flights is required, to mitigate the risk of bad odour entering the cabin during a flight.
Rolls-Royce has developed the technology to transform this procedure, and in doing so, deliver a drastic reduction in maintenance burden and environmental impact.
A specially designed system delivers a detergent mist behind the fan while generating a vacuum at the rear of the engine. This vacuum simultaneously draws the mist through the core and induces shaft rotation to ensure an even distribution of detergent throughout the engine. By virtue of its design, no engine pipework is contaminated, and the cowls can remain down, promoting more frequent cleaning at the gate, even with passengers on board. All contaminated water is captured – and there is much less of it. It is faster, cleaner, smarter.
Already proven on the Trent 1000, two units are due to be despatched to another customer to demonstrate the same technology for the Trent XWB. The system is engine agnostic, the only difference being a simple adaptor that is sized according to the engine type to ensure a seal for the vacuum, providing maximum flexibility to our much-valued mixed-fleet customers.
Core washing is known to reduce fuel burn by improving engine efficiency, and to deliver time on wing benefits by allowing the engine to run at lower temperatures. By asking ourselves “what more can we do?” Rolls-Royce is now able to offer a service that delivers enhanced value at every level. Value to our customers through reduced disruption, value to Rolls-Royce by improving time on wing and, most importantly, value to the environment: driving down emissions, extending the life of components before they are replaced, and protecting the often-overlooked commodity that is water.
Another step to sustainability from Rolls-Royce.