Fouling of the turbine's compressor blades is the case where small particles attach to the surface of blades. Over time particles will build up on the blades which will alter the aerodynamic profile of the blade and increase the aerodynamic drag of the blade due to increased roughness, leading to lower output and higher fuel consumption. When an offline water wash is performed to clean your compressor blades, we analyze the contaminants in the residue water. The presence of salt or ion levels may indicate that you need higher efficiency filtration to prevent corrosion. The scanning electron miroscope (SEM) is another way to identify the contaminants that are fouling the compressor blades by performing a detailed analysis of the deposits on the blades.
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