A UHP Waterjet System for Coke Removal in Jet Engine Fuel Tubes and Manifolds, with Laser-Optic Inspection

This Phase I study will show the feasibility of ultrahigh-pressure wagerer coke removal and laser-optic inspection for the renewal of jet engine fuel tubes and manifolds. Ultrahigh-pressure, 55,000 psi, pure waterjets offer significant advantages as the basis for a new coke removal method for cleaning and clearing jet engine components. Existing chemical dissolution and abrasive flow methods cannot clear blockages and are hazardous to the environment, health, and workpieces. Pure waterjets can safely remove coke deposits and unblock tubes faster and at a lower cost than existing methods, with no damage to the parent material. For the inspection of component internal surfaces, we will adapt a laser-optic measurement system with a custom miniature sensor. Characterization of these long, curved, small-diameter surfaces is difficult or impossible using conventional technology. The use of laser-based inspection, with accuracy of better than 1 mil, is applicable to manufacturing as well as maintenance. The Phase I objectives include demonstrating removal of coke deposits using UHP pure water, a breadboard demonstration of the laser-optic component inspection system, and the preliminary design of industrial-grade cleaning and inspection systems. Prototype machinery will be built and demonstrated in Phase II.