Ultrasonic cleaners are solvent savers

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 23, 2001

Kerry Ultrasonics has developed an automatic monitoring system which allows users of its cleaning machines to check the rate at which costly solvents are used during processing.

Kerry Ultrasonics has developed an automatic monitoring system which allows users of its cleaning machines to check the rate at which costly solvents are used during processing.

The first of its kind to be offered by any manufacturer, this new facility was recently used to confirm a total consumption of just 2.4 litres during a seven-day test of a high-capacity cleaning machine.

As well as demonstrating the solvent retention abilities of Kerry equipment, the monitoring system helps to minimise running costs because occasional increases in usage rate can be quickly spotted and rectified.

Whenever the fluid in the machine drops below a predetermined level, it is automatically topped up from a reservoir tank and the quantity delivered is logged in the PLC.

This data can be downloaded into a spreadsheet, allowing users to create a comprehensive record of solvent usage over a period of time.

Commenting on the financial significance of solvent loss, Sales Director Jeremy Humphreys says: "With solvents typically costing £50 per litre, it is not the cost of the machine that is crucial but the cost of running it.

He adds: "This new development shows our commitment to lowering the total lifetime cost of owning Kerry equipment.

No other manufacturer can give a firm commitment on solvent losses in service, or offer a method of measuring the losses on-line.

For the seven-day test, the auto top-up and monitoring system was used in conjunction with a Kerry Microsolve 350 Co-solvent machine.

The combination of hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon solvents used by this machine provides safe, cost-effective cleaning with no ozone depletion potential, very low toxicity and little or no environmental impact.

Cost-saving advantages of the co-solvent process include the fact that soils remain in the hydrocarbon phase, which can be easily separated and disposed of without loss of the more expensive fluorocarbon.