CRYOGENIC CLEANING OF GENERATORS & MOTORS

Conventional cleaning methods are Solvents and Steam / Water Jet blasting with lots of time
consuming manual labor.

Contaminants like carbon, oil, cement , paper, rubber, etc. (depending on the industry the generator
/ motor is used in) need to be removed over a period of time as these contaminants lower the
insulation resistance of the windings and can even cause mechanical failures in extreme situations.

Solvent Cleaning

Solvents are sprayed over the areas to be cleaned, while the surface is rubbed with a nylon brush or
blunt insulated stub to remove contaminants that have adhered to the surface of the windings. Solvent
soaked swabs are then used to access areas between adjacent coils and areas in which a brush /
stub cannot be used.

Solvent cleaning requires the cleaned component to be heated post cleaning to remove all traces of
solvents. Solvents often affect the outer layer of varnish and as such, application of a finishing varnish
after the dry out is mandatory.

The short falls in this cleaning method are:

Solvents are toxic. Collection and disposal of secondary waste is a major deterrent. Solvents affect
the outer layers of insulation. The abrasive action of brushes, stubs and swabs worsens the situation.
It is difficult to clean the inter spaces of adjacent coil sides and between top and bottom half coils
on the overhangs of windings. Contaminants lodged in crevices are not easily removed. Drying
out of the machine requires the use of a temperature controlled oven. This calls for dismantling of the
machine and transportation to a service facility. Such operations carry with them the associated risks
and costs.

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608-B Kohinoor City Mall, Kirol Road Off L B S Marg, Kurla (West) Mumbai 400050 – INDIA
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 In-situ cleaning, if carried out , will require that the machine is heated using hot air blowers or
passage of electric current through the windings. These methods are potentially hazardous. Typically
the man power required for a large machine is ten people over a 4 - 6 day period.

Steam / Hot Water Jet Cleaning

With this method of cleaning the windings are cleaned with steam or hot water mixed with a mild
detergent.
The cleaning results are good, however the major draw backs of this method are:

A perfect post cleaning dry out of the windings is mandatory. This involves dismantling
and transportation of the equipment to a service facility. In-situ cleaning is therefore ruled out.
Further, this method of cleaning has to be carried out judiciously to ensure that there is no
excessive abrasive action that may cause damage. Application of a fresh coat of finishing varnish
after the dry out is recommended. All in all, lots of down time and very costly.

ABB, GE, SIEMENS and ALSTOM generators and large motors, to name but a few in Europe,
Asia/India and the Americas, are cleaned in-situ with our Crystal Particle cleaning method. It
presents the owners / operators of such equipment with several advantages.

Dry Ice Crystal Particle Cleaning provides a "cleaner clean"

The inter space between adjacent coils and between top / bottom half coils on the overhangs are
very thoroughly cleaned. It has particularly been noted that contaminants trapped in crevices and
on overhang tie-ups are very well removed.

There is no abrasive action because of Dry Ice Blasting, if correctly carried out. Application of a
post clean up finishing varnish is not necessary in most cases. Heating of the windings after clean
up is not required (using good quality / dry blast cleaning air). It is however recommended, that
hot air is lightly blown over the cleaned area using a hand held hot air blower to
remove traces of light surface condensation, if present. Low insulation resistance values, if
attributed solely to contamination, improve considerably after the Dry Ice Crystal Particle cleaning
operation has been completed.

Typical example, demonstrating before and after readings, are:

GENERAL ELECTRIC, DC Motor, 4000KW, 700 Volt, 5800 Amperes, Excitation Voltage: 125
Volts. Speed: 150/375 RPM

Insulation Resistance Values Before After

( measured after 1min ) clean up clean up

On main field 0.6 Mega Ohms 4.5 Mega Ohms

On inter-poles and 0.85 Mega 70 Mega Ohms

compensating windings Ohms

On armature 0.85 Mega 2.0 Mega Ohms

Ohms

Another important issue is accessibility and maneuverability of Heavy Electrical Rotating

Machinery on site.
An Indian petro-chemical company is employing CO2 blast cleaning, since dismantling and shifting of
the machine is not possible within the given shut down period of 72 hours. CO2 cleaning is

CMW CO2 TECHNOLOGIES

608-B Kohinoor City Mall, Kirol Road Off L B S Marg, Kurla (West) Mumbai 400050 – INDIA
Telefax +91.22.25044605/06/08/09 E.mail customercare@cmw-dryice.com.com
 extremely useful as well, when machines to be cleaned are located in areas where
overhead cranes are not available. In India for example, power plants with diesel generators, have
only a 5 ton overhead crane to facilitate the engine overhaul. Dismantling of such machines for
overhauling is an onerous task and Dry Ice Crystal Particle cleaning in-situ provides a perfect solution.

BEFORE / AFTER PHOTOS

CMW CO2 TECHNOLOGIES

608-B Kohinoor City Mall, Kirol Road Off L B S Marg, Kurla (West) Mumbai 400050 – INDIA
Telefax +91.22.25044605/06/08/09 E.mail customercare@cmw-dryice.com.com
 2500 KVA Before

2500 KVA After

CMW CO2 TECHNOLOGIES

608-B Kohinoor City Mall, Kirol Road Off L B S Marg, Kurla (West) Mumbai 400050 – INDIA
Telefax +91.22.25044605/06/08/09 E.mail customercare@cmw-dryice.com.com
 625 KVA Before

625 KVA After

CMW CO2 TECHNOLOGIES

608-B Kohinoor City Mall, Kirol Road Off L B S Marg, Kurla (West) Mumbai 400050 – INDIA
Telefax +91.22.25044605/06/08/09 E.mail customercare@cmw-dryice.com.com
 Stator End Before

Stator End After

CMW CO2 TECHNOLOGIES

608-B Kohinoor City Mall, Kirol Road Off L B S Marg, Kurla (West) Mumbai 400050 – INDIA
Telefax +91.22.25044605/06/08/09 E.mail customercare@cmw-dryice.com.com