Aircraft Clear Water Rinse System (CWRS)
INTRODUCTION
Use of the Clear Water Rinse System (CWRS) can help prevent corrosion on the outer structure of aircraft and save time and money associated with corrosion repair and maintenance. All aircraft flown at low level (under 3000 ft) over salt water require a CWR after the last flight of the day. Clear water rinses do not satisfy aircraft washing requirements, as they only remove water-soluble matter from aircraft exterior surfaces. The use of CWRS will not alter aircraft wash cycle requirements. It will assist in controlling corrosion susceptibility by removing corrosive causing agents if used on a frequent basis between scheduled wash cycles, even if aircraft are not exposed to a salt environment. Common practice for meeting aircraft rinse requirements at many operational units is to utilize commonly available equipment such as a common garden hose or water buffalo. This manual process can take up to 1 hour per aircraft and may cause damage to aircraft if excessive pressures are used. In addition, the water used is almost never recycled. The use of an automated, taxi-through aircraft rinse system like CWRS provides cost savings by eliminating the manpower required for manual rinses, while at the same time recycling up to 80% of the water used for rinsing fighter aircraft. Locating the CWRS on a taxi-way or flight-line ramp allows for completion of rinses in approximately 1 minute immediately upon aircraft recover. Rinse cycle times can be adjusted to accommodate water spray lasting from 30 seconds to a minute and a half, allowing for customization to local environmental and various mission conditions. The CWRS system is installed above-grade which requires far less infrastructure modification and associated site engineering/environmental considerations than a typical inground rinse system. Minimal impact on base facilities reduces system stand-up time and initial operability to a few weeks in contrast to what normally takes several months when contemplating the installation of a typical in-ground system. The CWRS saves significant time, reducing what could take an hour per aircraft to a minute or less. The CWRS rests abovegrade and uses recycled water, significantly limiting infrastructure and environmental impacts. CLEAR WATER RINSE SYSTEM TECHNICAL OVERVIEWThe total footprint of the CWRS is 80’ x 76’, including a 60’ x 60’ rinse deck and two 8’ x 60’ water collection areas on each spray deck. The Clear Water Rinse System (CWRS) is a turn-key aircraft rinse system installed on an existing concrete pad, taxiway, or flight-line for minimal impact on existing base facilities and maximum location flexibility. Automatic Operation The CWRS is intended for taxi-through application of clear water for the purpose of rinsing corrosive agents from the surfaces of aircraft. This system rinses dust, salt, and other corrosion causing contaminates from the entire outer structure of the aircraft in less than one minute and can process up to The Clear Water Rinse System (CWRS) is installed on an existing concrete pad, taxiway, or flight path. |
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In the past, aircraft maintainers have completed the clear water rinse with a hose or water buffalo. This process can take up to 1 hour per aircraft, and thewater used is usually not properly managed resulting in discharging onto the ground and massive expenditure of resources and logistics. Alternate technologies have included high pressure systems or fire hoses, both of which have many drawbacks and can be damaging to aircraft. Riveer Environmental has designed an automatic clear water rinse system to allow the pilot to taxi through a rinse system after flight. The CWRS process takes from 30 seconds to one minute to complete and uses recycled water. The CWRS system is installed above-grade which requires far less infrastructure modification and associated on-site engineering/environmental considerations than a typical in-ground rinse facility installation. With this above-grade system there is no impact on base facilities for installation, which reduces initial start-up and time and allows for virtually immediate operation of the system.
According to the Air Force Corrosion Prevention and Control Office (AFCPCO), the USAF alone spends well over $1.5 billion annually on corrosion maintenance. It has been demonstrated that rinsing aircraft with clear water after a mission is one of the most effective methods for removing contaminates, salt, or sand that contribute to corrosion. In accordance with USAF TO 1-1-691, all aircraft exposed to a salt-water environment require a clear water rinse (CWR). Studies have shown that aircraft, vehicle and equipment washing as part of an effective corrosion control program will provide a 31 to 1 Return On Investment (ROI).
