How does a solvent degreaser work?
All systems comprise of two tanks a process tank and a boil tank
Components are placed in a suitable basket, which is then placed into the immersion zone of the process tank. The ultrasonic agitation (if fitted) is switched on. Following a period in immersion the ultrasonics are switched off and the parts are lifted to dwell in the vapour zone. After the vapour dwell the components are then lifted into the freeboard zone above the cooling coils. The cool freeboard atmosphere causes any residual solvent on the parts or basket to vaporise and collect on the cold plates in this area.
The fluid in the process tank is heated and may be ultrasonically agitated to help the removal of contaminants. The ultrasonic energy causes cavitation implosions at the surface of the parts causing any small particulate matter to be dislodged and removed. The fluid in the process tank may be constantly filtered to ensure all particles greater than the filter’s nominal bore size are removed.
To ensure that the components only come into contact with clean solvent the solvent is boiled in the boil tank to create a vapour blanket which is maintained around the mid-point of condensing coils. The vapour rises and fills the vapour zone where it condenses on the coils and falls into a collection trough. The condensed solvent is directed back into the process tank via a water separation device. The process tank fills and solvent runs over a weir to return to the boil tank to complete the solvent cycle. This provides a constant distillation of the solvent material.
In mono solvent systems the boil tank is off set and reduced in size to the minimum requirement to reduce the amount of first fill solvent required. Parts do not immerse in the boil tank in this configuration.
In co solvent systems parts can also be placed in to the immersion zone of the boil tank.