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 …

Water – De-Ionized Water

Next to water filtration and “softening,” de-ionization is probably the next most common water treatment.  Ions in water interfere with many cleaning processes and cause water spots on drying after rinsing.  The common measure of the amount of ions in water is “resistivity.”  The more “resistive” water is, the less ions it contains.  Water from a municipal …

Valves – Backpressure Regulating Valves

Pressure regulating valves were discussed in the preceding blog Valves – Pressure Reducing Valves.  Pressure reducing valves, although commonly used where pressure is an issue, are not always the best alternative.  The pressure reducing valve has a close cousin called a “Back Pressure Regulating Valve” which monitors and controls pressure in a similar but different …

Cleaning and Rinsing – Spray Nozzles for Use in Air

Previous blogs have suggested the use of liquid sprays in air as either a primary mechanism or as an enhancement to both cleaning and rinsing operations.  Today’s blog will discuss, briefly, what is important in choosing a spray nozzle or nozzles for a particular application.  In order for spray to be effective, of course, the …

Rinsing – Better Rinsing Using Less Water

It is no secret that good cleaning followed by poor rinsing can be worse than not rinsing (or cleaning) at all.  A single-use rinse using a fresh water spray or a high flow rate or single use immersion rinse are often thought to provide the ultimate rinse.  These options, however, are often extremely expensive because they consume …

Cleaning Process – Preventing Oxidation During Cleaning and Rinsing

Rust is a potential problem whenever ferrous parts are being cleaned.  There are several options available to prevent or eliminate rusting both during and after the parts cleaning process.  Steel will rust if it is exposed to oxygen and moisture as discussed in the blog Some Things You Should Know About Rust. Although iron oxide (rust) gets …

Rinsing – Options – Single Rinse Tank

Rinsing as it applies to aqueous parts cleaning is a final “cleaning” step which removes residues introduced by or resulting from the primary cleaning process.  There are several options to choose from when it comes to rinsing.  Making the proper selection is very important to the overall cleaning process as the final rinse inevitably defines overall cleanliness.  …