Extending Chemistry Life with Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration

The cost of acquiring and disposing of cleaning chemistry is usually a major contributor to the overall cost of an industrial or precision cleaning process.  Removing contaminants from cleaning solutions can potentially extend their useful life and reduce overall cleaning costs.  Traditional filters including those of the bag and cartridge variety are commonly used to remove solid (particulate) contaminants …

Other Oil Removal Options

In some cases, previously described oil removal technologies based on the gravity separation of oil from the cleaning solution are unjustifiably cumbersome and expensive.  Fortunately, smaller scale solutions are available for use in such applications. Oil Skimmers – Oil skimmers utilize a material which preferentially attracts oil (hydrophobic) to skim floating oil from a surface …

Six Sigma – Monitoring Variables in Cleaning – Part 3 (final)

A few more things to monitor – Dirty rinse – An effective rinse is critical to most cleaning processes.  Only in very limited cases can residues from the cleaning step be left on parts after they are cleaned.  It does not, of course, do any good to clean the parts if they become re-contaminated by a …

Six Sigma – Monitoring Variables in Cleaning – Part 2

Here are a few more variables that can be monitored in cleaning systems in pursuit of a Six Sigma process – Oil laden detergent – A good oil removal system is paramount in controlling the quality of the detergent in a cleaning system.  An oily bath can quickly become ineffective in removing additional oil and even …

Six Sigma – Monitoring Variables in Cleaning – Part 1

As discussed earlier, monitoring variables in a process is a critical part of Six Sigma.  The following are some examples of parameters that can be monitored in a cleaning process and some suggestions regarding how the monitoring can be done. Chemical Concentration – Chemistry (detergent, acid, rinse aid, etc.) is one of the most important components of the …

Plumbing – “Air Locks”

The blog Pumps – Centrifugal Pumps provided some basic information about the type of pump most commonly used in industrial cleaning equipment.  Centrifugal pumps are simple, relatively inexpensive, versatile and reliable.  However, as I mentioned in that blog, they do have some limitations.  In order for a centrifugal pump to function, liquid to be pumped …

Applications Notes – Ultrasonic Filter Cleaning

Filters used to filter air, water and chemicals in industrial processes can cost thousands of dollars and more.  Some filters are intended to be renewable by cleaning.  Other filters, even some considered “disposable,” can be recovered for re-use using ultrasonic cleaning techniques. A filter, as we discussed in earlier blogs (search “filter”) is a device …

Water – De-Ionoized – Right and Wrong

This blog explores some common mistakes made in the application of de-ionization hardware.  Although a properly engineered and installed de-ionization system will prevent these potential mistakes at the start, post-installation modifications by those less knowledgeable about de-ionizing technology don’t always respect good design practices. Temperature Limits – In general, de-ionization systems are not intended to …