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aircraft operating costs. “The test phase with the prototype has wheels on all sides, the vehicle can be driven
been completed successfully, and several patent applications in any desired direction, enabling the system
have been filed. Now the Cyclean Dry Ice engine wash system to be positioned in front of the engine quickly
will be developed into a product,” the LHT official says. and simply. With the help of the integrated
scissor lift, the system can be lifted and low-
Cyclean minimizes kerosene consumption, reduces pollutant ered as required. This guarantees that all
emissions and extends the service life of the engines. By inject- types of engines can be cleaned, no matter
ing thinly vaporized water directly into the core engine, it is no how big or high up they are.
longer necessary to disconnect sense lines prior to the wash.
This obviates the need to reconnect the sense lines and to per- During the cleaning process, dry ice pellets
form a post-wash run-up. In this way, Cyclean brings substantial are fed into the engine through the intake.
time and cost savings, with both operating and maintenance Upon impact, kinetic energy is released and
costs reduced. In Cryclean Dry Ice wash, the engines are some of the dirt is dislodged from the com-
cleaned with dry ice, the solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2). This ponents. The dry ice pellets immediately
approach is not only efficient; it also saves water and enables transform from a solid to a gaseous state
engine washes to be performed at outdoor temperatures below without melting in between. Upon contact
freezing for the very first time. Engines can thus be washed 365 with the ice-cold pellets (-78.5 degrees
days a year anywhere in the world – even in permafrost regions. Celsius / −109.3°F), the dirt contracts,

Since 2007, Lufthansa Technik has been using the specially becomes brittle and is thoroughly but care-
developed, water-based Cyclean system to wash engines. More fully removed. Since dry ice blasting does
Jay Menon than 90,000 engine washes have been performed at over 40 not leave any residue, no run-up is necessary
stations worldwide so far. But that was just the beginning. In after the engines have been washed.
2014, Lufthansa Technik turned its attention to testing alter-
native cleaning agents and further improving the verification There is also no need to fasten any pieces
process. Dry ice proved to be the best alternative due to its of equipment to the engine. This reduces the
high cleaning performance. In addition, it is not necessary to time needed for the cleaning process – and
generate additional carbon dioxide, since the carbon dioxide thus also the ground time – to just 30 minutes
used is a by-product of the oil refinery and fertilizer industries. compared with conventional engine washes.
For the purpose of positioning the system in front of the fan An engine wash with dry ice can therefore
blades, Lufthansa Technik developed a mounting platform also be carried out during a short turnaround
with an omnidirectional drive in cooperation with Darmstadt at the gate.
University of Applied Sciences and Imetron GmbH. Featuring

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