EcoPower Service Scrubs Carbon Deposits From Turbofans

Pratt & Whitney said this week it will provide EcoPower engine wash services for the entire US Air Force F117 fleet of 800 engines, as part of a C-17 F117 Engine Overhaul and Repair support contract from The Boeing Company, announced in October. As part of this support contract, Pratt & Whitney will also provide EcoPower engine wash services for other C-17 customers worldwide.

Pratt & Whitney says its patented EcoPower washes reduce engine fuel burn by as much as 1.2 percent, eliminate three pounds of carbon dioxide emissions for every pound of fuel saved, and decrease engine exhaust gas temperature by as much as 15 degrees Celsius, improving performance and increasing the amount of time an engine can stay on wing.

"We are proud to help the US Air Force and global C-17 customers to operate more effectively and more environmentally friendly," said Joanne Hastings, director, Line Maintenance Services, Pratt & Whitney. "To support this F117 Engine Overhaul and Repair support contract, we will conduct washes at locations in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Middle East, and Australia. We are hoping to make EcoPower engine wash technology available for other USAF aircraft in the near future."

Pratt & Whitney launched the EcoPower service business in late 2004 and to date has completed nearly 4,000 washes for more than 60 customers in 10 countries. This F117 engine maintenance contract managed by Boeing is for a one year period of performance contract extension with the option to extend for two additional years through 2011.

The EcoPower engine wash service, offered through the Global Service Partners network, uses a closed-loop system with pure, atomized water to wash aircraft engines, thus avoiding potential contaminant runoff. The system is more effective and much faster than traditional engine washing processes. Issued patents and applications cover various aspects of EcoPower(R) engine wash services in several countries relating to features such as water atomization, the closed-loop system, effluent collection process and purification techniques.

FMI: www.pratt-whitney.com, www.af.mil