Vapor degreasing uses solvent vapors to clean metal and plastic parts for manufacturing. It can be done in an open tank or closed chamber, with various configurations and cooling systems. Immersion degreasing is a pre-treatment process that uses ultrasonic technology to remove stubborn contaminants.
Vapor degreasing is an industrial process that uses solvent vapors to remove oils and other contaminants from metal and plastic parts that will be used in manufacturing. It is particularly effective for cleaning small parts and parts with deep cavities that are difficult to reach by hand. The process can be configured in a variety of ways to produce the desired level of cleanliness and minimize negative impacts on air quality that could be caused by escaping solvent vapors.
In its simplest form, steam degreasing is performed in an open tank containing a vat of boiling solvent at the bottom. The parts to be cleaned are lowered into the tank just enough to be enveloped by the rising vapors. The cleaning process takes place in this so-called steam zone. When the hot vapors touch the relatively cooler inner and outer surfaces of the parts, they condense into a liquid and dissolve any oils, lubricants, waxes or similar contaminants they encounter. The contaminant-laden solvent then drips off the parts under the force of gravity and falls back into the boiling tank.
Oils, lubricants, and other contaminants entering the vat will not foul the vapors, because solvents boil at lower temperatures than oils. The temperature of the vat should be kept just high enough to vaporize solvents but not so high that oils will also vaporize. This is the key to the success of the steam degreasing process.
The upper walls of an open degreaser tank typically include a cooling system called a cold trap. It is intended to cool and condense any vapors that approach the open top of the tank and may escape into the surrounding environment. In practice, cold traps are generally not completely effective at preventing the escape of steam. Escaped vapors reduce system efficiency and pose a threat to ambient air quality and worker health. This is why closed vapor degreasing systems are often preferred over open systems.
A closed steam, or closed circuit, degreaser has an airtight chamber in which the degreasing takes place. The parts to be cleaned are first placed in the chamber, then the vapors are driven into the chamber. The contaminant-laden solvent falls to the bottom of the chamber and is swept away. Once the cleaning of the parts is complete, the incoming steam source is cut off. Fans are used to blow remaining vapors out of the chamber and into a cooling system to condense them for reuse. Carbon filters capture stray vapors that remain in the chamber.
There are many configurations for steam degreasing processes. Some systems feature a spray lance that can be manually operated to direct solvent into hard-to-reach areas of intricate parts. Liquid immersion degreasing involves immersing parts in a liquid solvent, typically to loosen stubborn oil deposits. This is typically a pre-treatment process performed prior to conventional steam degreasing. Modern immersion degreasers use ultrasonic technology to blast parts with microscopic bubbles that help remove oils and other contaminants.
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