Parts Washers & Wastewater Evaporators

By Hydro Blast, Inc.

Parts Washers have been used for years. These systems clean small parts to large assemblies, limited only by the size of the cabinet itself. Dirty parts are placed on a rotating turntable. Centrifugal pumps or rotating disks, spray or throw hot water and detergent at pressures usually under 100 PSI but at very high volumes. The high flow of hot water and detergent, at temperatures up to 200° Fahrenheit, heats the parts and strips away the dirt, oil, grease, and most contaminates. The cleaning solution flows to the bottom or side of the parts washer where it is reheated, filtered and reused.

 

How a Cabinet Parts Washer Cleans:

Most dirty parts that need cleaning can be effectively cleaned in an Parts Washer. Hydro Blast Parts Washers will clean parts made of metal, plastic, and rubber, removing petroleum products, dirt, carbon, metal shavings, even asphalt. The parts are cleaned in three easy steps. (1) Load the parts in the Parts Washer, close the door, set the timer. (2) Parts are cleaned automatically while skilled laborers work on more productive jobs. (3.) Unload the parts. Washed parts will air dry or optional machine dry and be ready to use within minutes of removal from the parts washer.

There are three basic styles of cabinet parts washers; front load, top load, and pass-through conveyor systems. Each style has the same basic components, a turntable or conveyor, a spray bar with nozzles or jets, a pump to spray the parts with the cleaning solution, drive motors, heat source, wash timer, thermostats, filter/strainer and a wash reservoir. Reservoir sizes range from 20 gallons to over 300 gallons. Most small to mid-size washers are electrically heated. When reservoir sizes reach 100 gallons and above, natural gas and propane are available on some models and can be more cost effective.

There are several factors that will affect the cleaning ability of an parts washer; the detergent, the temperature of the wash water, and the cleaning time. Many types of cleaning detergents are available, from high pH sodium hydroxide based for ferrous metals; mid pH "All Metal Safe" for most metal types including aluminum. Most detergents have a rust inhibitor and de-foamer added to them. The temperature of the wash water may vary from 140 ° to 200 ° Fahrenheit. Cleaning time usually is 5 to 20 minutes depending on the level of contaminates. As the parts heat, contaminates will be washed away by the high volumes of water.

 

Cabinet Parts Washer Options:

Some of the more popular options for parts washers are fresh water make-up, baskets for small parts, and multiple turntables (to increase capacity). Some cleaning applications require, extra filters, and strainers for removing dirt and contaminants from the wash water. Filters can eliminate particulate that is re-deposited on the parts. Insulation is another option for added heat retention and reduced energy consumption. Critical cleaning applications may require options such as all stainless steel construction, hot or cold fresh water rinse, de-ionized rinse water, and air drying capabilities.

 

Environmental Concerns: Wastewater Disposal:

Filters can extend the useful life of the cleaning solution. However, the wash water will eventually become so dirty that parts will no longer clean properly and the wash water will need to be disposed of. Like any other piece of cleaning equipment, careful disposal of the wastewater does exist. Waste haulers can haul water and sludge. Wastewater treated by filtration or flocculent is acceptable for sewage disposal in some areas. Putting untreated wastewater down the drain is not an acceptable option except with precision cleaning and only if there are very few oils, high suspended solids, or heavy metals in the solution. Check with your local public owned treatment works before putting anything down the drain. Wastewater evaporators are gaining popularity. These are built-into the washer or come as a completely separate unit.

 

Why Use An Aqueous Parts Washer?

In these environmentally conscious times, aqueous parts washers are replacing several types of existing systems in several major markets. Companies are switching from cleaning with solvent and corrosive chemicals to aqueous cleaning. Solvent washers are under a lot of pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) due to the volatile organic compounds (VOC's) used to clean parts. VOC's are considered a health and environmental hazard. The EPA has established a deadline for the elimination of several solvent alternatives because many are considered hazardous air pollutants, ozone depleting and present safety concerns such as flammability or human toxicity. Solvent washers are also very labor intensive. Cabinet parts washers can pay for themselves in less than one year with labor savings.

Pressure washers and steam cleaners are also under scrutiny because they discharge a contaminated waste stream. Customers who may not be willing or able to purchase a wastewater reclamation system for these waste streams may need a parts washer. Cabinet parts washers can not replace pressure washer and steam "inframe" cleaning. However, cabinet parts washers are convenient to use and the labor savings of cleaning an assembly that fits into a cabinet parts washer is substantial.

Vapor degreasers and hot tanks will soon go the way of the dinosaur because of environmental concerns and the availability of effective aqueous cleaning methods. Both vapor degreasers and hot tank systems are very effective in stripping paint and heavy carbon build-up. When compared to a cabinet parts washer charged with hot water and an "All Metal Safe" detergent, the vapor degreaser and hot tank may do a better job cleaning but takes too long. However, the use of a high pH detergent with a sodium hydroxide base will increase the cleaning performance ferrous metals.

 

Applications:

Precision cleaning - is exactly what the name implies. This can be a very demanding application with cleaning specification sometimes down to 1-5 microns. One grain of table salt is approximately 100 microns. The smallest particle visible to the human eye is 30 microns. Precision cleaning is accomplished using a variety of filters, rinses, de-ionized water and all stainless steel construction.

Manufacturing and re-manufacturing - companies use cabinet parts washers to clean, de-oil, paint prep, or even phosphotize. This industry often requires pass-through conveyor type systems. Conveyor Parts Washers can be used in most cleaning and de-oiling applications.

"In plant" maintenance - covers everything from paper mills and steel mills to food processing plants that have maintenance shops. These "in plant" maintenance shops are found in most medium to large industrial plants. Aqueous parts washers can be used for electric motor rebuilding, hydraulic components, power transmission parts and filter cleaning, etc.

Auto and diesel repair - is the most visible market for aqueous parts washers. This market includes auto dealers, auto repair, diesel repair, military, municipalities, or any fleet of cars and trucks.

 

Advantages of Aqueous Parts Washers:

Aqueous cabinet parts washing is quickly becoming the affordable, environmentally sound choice for many cleaning applications and markets. Aqueous parts washer, will help keep a shop productive and within the stringent EPA guidelines. They are a cost effective way to replace the lease/rental agreement of solvent washers. They are labor friendly, not labor intensive, as parts are cleaned automatically. They will eliminate expensive disposal costs and liabilities and may reduce insurance premiums. One strong advantage for switching from solvent cleaning to aqueous parts cleaning is aqueous parts washers usually have a payback of less than 12 months.