Story ID: 
Simplex offers more efficient powerline washing
By: Thierry Dubois
Caption: Simplex Manufacturing has upgraded its powerline washing system, increasing the maximum water pressure to 2,000 psi.
Word Count: 146
Simplex Manufacturing has upgraded its powerline washing system, increasing the maximum water pressure to 2,000 psi. According to CEO Steven Daniels, the upgrade boosts endurance from five to 20 minutes with the same tank. Powerline washing takes dirt off insulator strings, thus regaining up to 5 percent of efficiency and, according to Daniels, with the system upgrade, “per day, you can wash three times more insulator strings,” he told AIN. The most visible piece is the 22-foot spray boom.The boom has a lateral swing of zero degrees to 100 degrees from the aircraft’s nose. The vertical movement is zero degrees to 45 degrees down. The system’s total dry weight is just under 700 pounds. Water pressure can be set between 500 and 2,000 psi. The tank’s capacity is 120 U.S. gallons. Stevens said the types best suited to installation of the system are the Bell 407 and the AS 350B3 Ecureuil.