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Device for cleaning a gas turbine engine (2), and in particular an engine of turbofan type. The present invention further relates to a method for cleaning such a engine. The device comprises a plurality of nozzles (31, 33, 35) arranged to atomize cleaning liquid in the air stream in an air inlet (20

Device for cleaning a gas turbine engine (2), and in particular an engine of turbofan type. The present invention further relates to a method for cleaning such a engine. The device comprises a plurality of nozzles (31, 33, 35) arranged to atomize cleaning liquid in the air stream in an air inlet (20) of the engine (2) up-stream of a fan (25) of the engine (2). According to the invention a first nozzle (31) is arranged at a position such that the cleaning liquid emanating from the first nozzle (31) impinges the surfaces of the blades (40) substantially on the pressure side (53); a second nozzle (35) is arranged at a position such that the cleaning liquid emanating from the second nozzle (35) impinges the surfaces of the blades (40) substantially on the suction side (54); and a third nozzle (33) is arranged at a position such that the cleaning liquid emanating from the third nozzle (33) passes substantially between the blades (40) and enters an inlet (23) of the core engine (203). Thereby, the different types of fouling found on the fan and in the core engine compressor of turbofan engine can be removed in an efficient manner.

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The invention claimed is: 1. A device for cleaning a gas turbine engine, which engine includes at least one engine shaft, a fan rotatably arranged on a first shaft, which fan comprises a plurality of fan blades mounted on a hub and extending substantially in a radial direction each having a pressur

The invention claimed is: 1. A device for cleaning a gas turbine engine, which engine includes at least one engine shaft, a fan rotatably arranged on a first shaft, which fan comprises a plurality of fan blades mounted on a hub and extending substantially in a radial direction each having a pressure side and a suction side, and a core engine including a compressor unit and turbines for driving said compressor unit and said fan, the device comprising one or more nozzles arranged to atomize cleaning liquid in the air stream in an air inlet of the engine, wherein the one or more nozzles comprises at least one of: a first nozzle arranged at a position relative a centre line of said engine arranged such that the cleaning liquid emanated from said first nozzle is regulated in a direction so that a substantial portion of the cleaning liquid emanated impinges the surfaces of said blades on said pressure side and a limited portion impinges said surfaces of said blades on said suction side or passes between the blades; a second nozzle arranged at a position relative said centre line of said engine arranged such that the cleaning liquid emanated from said second nozzle is regulated in a direction so that a substantial portion of the cleaning liquid emanated impinges the surfaces of said blades on said suction side and a limited portion impinges said surfaces of said blades on said pressure side or passes between the blades; or a third nozzle arranged at a position relative said centre line of said engine arranged such that the cleaning liquid emanated from said third nozzle is regulated in a direction so that a substantial portion of the cleaning liquid emanated passes between said blades and enters an inlet of said core engine and a limited portion impinges said surfaces of said blades; wherein said one or more nozzles comprises each of said first nozzle, second nozzle and third nozzle; and said inlet of said core engine is limited by on one side a splitter and on the other side a point on said hub, wherein said third nozzle is arranged so that the cleaning liquid emanated from said third nozzle forms a spray which, at said inlet, has a width, along an axis substantially parallel with the radial extension of the blades of said fan, substantially equal to the distance between said splitter and said point on said hub. 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first nozzle and said second nozzle are arranged so that the cleaning liquid emanated from said first nozzle and said second nozzle, respectively, form a spray which, at impinge against a blade, has a width, along an axis substantially parallel with the radial extension of the blades of said fan, substantially equal to the length of a leading edge of said blade. 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said first nozzle is arranged at a first tangential angle (X) relatively to said centre line of said engine, and/or said second nozzle is arranged at a second tangential angle (Z) relatively to said centre line of said engine, and/or said third nozzle is arranged at a third tangential angle (Y) relatively to said centre line of said engine. 4. A device according to claim 3, wherein said first tangential angle (X) is greater than 40 degrees. 5. A device according to claim 3, wherein said second tangential angle (Z) is greater than-20 degrees and less than 20 degrees. 6. A device according to claim 3, wherein said third tangential angle (Y) is greater than 20 degrees. 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first nozzle, said second nozzle, and said third nozzle are arranged at a point more than 100 mm in an axial direction upstream the leading edge of said fan. 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first nozzle, said second nozzle, and said third nozzle are arranged at a position, in a radial direction, at a point less than the diameter of the fan and greater than a diameter of said hub of said fan. 9. A method for cleaning a gas turbine engine, which engine includes at least one engine shaft, a fan rotatably arranged on a first shaft, which fan comprises a plurality of fan blades mounted on a hub and extending substantially in a radial direction each having a pressure side and a suction side, and a core engine including a compressor unit and turbines for driving said compressor unit and said fan, said method comprising one or more nozzles arranged to atomize cleaning liquid in the air stream in an air inlet of the engine, wherein the method comprises the steps of: applying cleaning liquid emanated from at least one of: a first nozzle arranged such that the cleaning liquid emanated from said first nozzle is controlled such that a substantial portion of the cleaning liquid emanated impinges the surfaces of said blades on said pressure side and a limited portion impinges said surfaces of said blades on said suction side or passes between the blades; a second nozzle arranged such that the cleaning liquid emanated from said second nozzle is controlled such that a substantial portion of the cleaning liquid emanated impinges the surfaces of said blades on said suction side and a limited portion impinges said surfaces of said blades on said pressure side or passes between the blades; or a third nozzle arranged such that the cleaning liquid emanated from said third nozzle is controlled such that a substantial portion of the cleaning liquid emanated impinges the surfaces of said blades between said blades and enters an inlet of said core engine and a limited portion impinges said surfaces of said blades; wherein the step of applying cleaning liquid comprises applying cleaning liquid from each of said first nozzle, second nozzle and third nozzle; and said inlet of said core engine is limited by on one side a splitter and on the opposite side, a point on said hub, comprising the step of: forming a spray of the cleaning liquid emanating from said third nozzle which, at said inlet, has a width, along an axis substantially parallel with the radial extension of the blades of said fan, substantially equal to the distance between said splitter and said point on said hub. 10. A method according to claim 9, comprising the step of: forming a spray of the cleaning liquid emanated from said first nozzle and said second nozzle, respectively, which, at impinge against said leading edge, has a width, along an axis substantially parallel with the radial extension of the blades of said fan, substantially equal to the length of a leading edge of a blade. 11. A method according to claim 9, comprising the steps of: directing the cleaning liquid emanated from said first nozzle at a first tangential angle (X) relatively to said centre line of said engine, and/or directing the cleaning liquid emanated from said second nozzle at a second tangential angle (Z) relatively to said centre line of said engine, and/or directing the cleaning liquid emanated from said third nozzle at a third tangential angle (Y) relatively to said centre line of said engine. 12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said first tangential angle (X) is greater than 40 degrees. 13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said second tangential angle (Z) is greater than-20 degrees and less than 20 degrees. 14. A method according to claim 11, wherein said third tangential angle (Y) is greater than 20 degrees. 15. A device according to claim 3, wherein said first tangential angle (X) is greater than 60 degrees and less than 80 degrees. 16. A device according to claim 3, wherein said second tangential angle (Z) is substantially zero degrees. 17. A device according to claim 3, wherein said third tangential angle (Y) is greater than 25 degrees and less than 30 degrees. 18. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of arranging each of said first nozzle, said second nozzle, and said third nozzle at a point more than 100 mm in an axial direction upstream the leading edge of said fan. 19. A method according to claim 9, comprising the step of arranging each of said first nozzle, said second nozzle, and said third nozzle at a position, in a radial direction, at a point less than the diameter of the fan and greater than a diameter of said hub of said fan. 20. A device according to claim 1, wherein each of said first nozzle, said second nozzle, and said third nozzle are arranged at a point more than 500 mm and less than 1000 mm upstream the leading edge of said fan. 21. A device for cleaning a gas turbine engine, said engine including at least one engine shaft, a fan rotatably arranged on a first shaft, said fan comprising a plurality of fan blades mounted on a hub and extending substantially in a radial direction wherein each of said blades include a pressure side and a suction side, and a core engine including a compressor unit and turbines for driving said compressor unit and said fan, said device comprising: one or more nozzles arranged to atomize cleaning liquid in said air stream in an air inlet of said engine, wherein said one or more nozzles comprises at least one of: a first nozzle arranged at a position transverse a centre line of said engine such that said cleaning liquid emanated from said first nozzle is sprayed at a first angle relative to the center line and in a direction so that a substantial portion of the cleaning liquid emanated impinges said surfaces of said blades on said pressure side and a limited portion impinges said surfaces of said blades on said suction side or passes between the blades; a second nozzle arranged at a position transverse said centre line of said engine such that said cleaning liquid emanated from said second nozzle is sprayed at a second angle relative to the center line that is different than the first angle, and in a direction so that a substantial portion of the cleaning liquid emanated impinges said surfaces of said blades on said suction side and a limited portion impinges said surfaces of said blades on said pressure side or passes between the blades; or a third nozzle arranged at a position transverse said centre line of said engine such that said cleaning liquid emanated from said third nozzle is sprayed at a third angle relative to the center line that is different than both the first angle and the second angle, and in a direction so that a substantial portion of the cleaning liquid emanated passes substantially between said blades and enters an inlet of said core engine and a limited portion impinges said surfaces of said blades; wherein said one or more nozzles comprises each of said first nozzle, second nozzle and third nozzle; and said inlet of said core engine is limited by on one side a splitter and on the other side a point on said hub, wherein said third nozzle is arranged so that the cleaning liquid emanated from said third nozzle forms a spray which, at said inlet, has a width, along an axis substantially parallel with the radial extension of the blades of said fan, substantially equal to the distance between said splitter and said point on said hub. 22. A device according to claim 21 further comprising: two or more nozzles arranged to atomize cleaning liquid in said air stream in an air inlet of said engine, wherein said two or more nozzles comprises at least two of said first nozzle, said second nozzle or said third nozzle.