BA cleans aircraft components to highest standards

Citation

(2001), "BA cleans aircraft components to highest standards", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 73 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2001.12773dad.013

BA cleans aircraft components to highest standards

BA cleans aircraft components to highest standardsKeywords: Kerry Ultrasonics, British Airways, Cleaning, Ultrasonic, Components

British Airways has reportedly made the maintenance of precision aircraft components a faster, more efficient process with the introduction of automated solvent cleaning systems from Kerry Ultrasonics. Three Kerry Microsolve units have been installed at the British Airways Component Engineering (BACE) site in Hayes, Middlesex (Plate 4). They are used to remove all traces of oil, grease and carbon from the components of hydraulic, pneumatic and power generation systems.

The cleaning machines were chosen to replace trichloroethylene-based equipment which it is claimed, sometimes left contamination on the components, necessitating additional scrubbing by hand. The thorough action of the Microsolve machines is said to mean that manual finishing is no longer required.

Plate 4 British Airways reports that it has made the maintenance of precision aircraft components a faster, more efficient process with the introduction of three Kerry Microsolve cleaning systems at the BACE site in Hayes, Middlesex

In addition, where baskets of components were previously moved through the process by hand, the new Kerry systems are fitted with Autotrans Mk4 robotic work transporters for faster throughput and consistent quality.

British Airways uses two Microsolve M500/2C units and one Microsolve M450/2C, all providing two-stage "co-solvent" cleaning with a combination of hydrocarbon and HFE (hydrofluoroether) solvents. According to Kerry this combination offers substantial environmental benefits over the chlorinated solvent formerly used, as well as being less expensive.

Both cleaning stages are ultrasonically assisted, ensuring thorough removal of soils from "difficult" components with complex shapes and blind holes. Soiled components, which are made of high grade steel and aluminium alloys, are initially immersed in hydrocarbon and HFE. The unmixed HFE agitates the hydrocarbon, which takes up large quantities of oil, grease and carbon. In the second stage, pure HFE is used to displace the residual hydrocarbon. Vapour rinsing and drying complete the process.

Further details are available from Kerry Ultrasonics Ltd. Tel: +44 (0) 1462 450761; Fax: +44 (0)1462 420712; E-mail: stephanie-healey@kerry.co.uk