What is water jetting and its applications?
Water jetting uses pressurized water for a variety of applications in different industries. Using the appropriate combination of pressure and flow from different pumps, along with appropriate equipment, water jetting could be used in a variety of cleaning applications.
The systems required, consist of an energy source, like an electric motor or internal combustion engine, a pump, control mechanism, hoses, pipes, nozzles, and various other components necessary for the equipment to function as a complete system.
The most common applications are found in:
- Construction: maintenance, repairs, hydrodemolition, etc.
- Surface preparation and coating removal
- Industrial cleaning and maintenance
- Municipal cleaning
- Cold Cutting
It should be noted that sometimes, water jetting applications can be an intermediate activity, which requires previous actions that give rise to others later, thus increasing the degree of difficulty in applying these techniques.
This difficulty also responds to the use of tools that involve very diverse and specific applications and risks, requiring the use of special equipment, workers with specific training, and efficient technical and safety coordination.
It is considered that high pressure in water jetting applications begins with a working pressure of about 200-250 bar. The exact pressure within this range, that will determine the beginning of high pressure varies from country to country, depending on their different regulations. In this regard, each company must be fully aware of the regulations of the country where it operates.
What is automation in industrial cleaning?
‘Automation in industrial cleaning’ can be defined as the set of operations, equipment and processes that enables the operator to remotely control the jetting operation from a safe distance. These new working methods being employed on site are usually denominated “fully automated, semi-automated or mechanized”.
Automation increases safety performance, efficiency on-site and reduces the impact on the environment.
However, the main goal usually followed with automation is to get the operators “out of the line of fire”. To use systems whereby the operator can set up the cleaning equipment and manipulate the cleaning frame from a safe distance, reducing the risk when cleaning hazardous materials.
Nevertheless, automation is still in its early days in the industrial cleaning sector and although there is increasing implementation, there are still many companies and areas in which it could be incorporated. In this regard, regulation plays an important role. It is difficult to be a first-mover if there is no national and/or European standard. It must also be taken into account that there are different levels of end-costumer requirements.
Additionally, the use of automated industrial cleaning systems implies a high investment in the purchase of such equipment which sometimes slows down its implementation.
Ultimately, the implementation of automated/mechanized equipment or robotics has the long-term goal of changing workers’ operations on-site from hands-on to hands-free applications, allowing the worker to carry out operations from a safe distance, although it still has some barriers to overcome.
What are the differences between automated industrial cleaning operations and other types of water jetting cleaning operations?
Industrial cleaning processes can be carried out using several different methods under one of the methods listed below:
Water jetting cleaning
- Manual systems: the work in manual systems is characterized by the fact that the user holds the working tool with his hands to carry out the cleaning task. The worker could potentially be directly exposed to chemical, mechanical and thermal hazards.
- Semi-automatic systems: With this equipment part of the operation is automated and another part is manual. The equipment can be set up such that the operator is in a safe area as defined by risk assessment/work permits.
- Fully Automatic system: The operator who operates a fully automated system, does so from a distance and controls it remotely, as its purpose is precisely that the operator does not have to manipulate lances and hoses manually to avoid risks.
Vacuum cleaning
Vacuum and impulsion systems are used, whose operation is based on suction. The waste or elements to be removed are suctioned or transported using special hoses, whether solid or liquid, and through these hoses. They then go to a tank where they are temporarily stored for the duration of the vacuuming process, which is subsequently emptied.
Chemical cleaning
The basic process of chemical cleaning consists of protecting/separating the areas that are not to be treated, preparing the surface to be treated (physical pre-cleaning), delivering the chemical to the surface to be treated (chemical attack) and removing the chemical (rinsing and waste management).
Depending on the method used to apply the chemical, these processes can be classified into the following types: circulation, immersion and spraying.
Water and sandblast cleaning
This consists of projecting a high-pressure water jet together with sand (or similar abrasives), thus avoiding the generation of dust. It is used in a variety of cleaning applications.
Mechanical cleaning
This is the most basic industrial cleaning method. It is a common, everyday cleaning, that can be carried out in any facility and is done with brushes, scrapers, mops, scouring pads and rags etc.
This technique is often used to clean bathrooms, small areas of floors, or offices. It is also sometimes used to clean very large and heavy machinery that cannot be dismantled to sanitize in parts. It is used in a variety of industrial cleaning applications.
Automation in industrial cleaning is the set of processes, equipment and operations that allow the part of industrial cleaning that is carried out by water jetting (the most common and extensive one) to be automated, taking the operator out of the line of fire and thus reducing risks.
Automation allows hands-free, automated cleaning equipment, which significantly reduces industrial accidents and saves lives. Using a hand-held water jetting gun is extremely dangerous – even for experienced operators who have received adequate training. Coming into contact with high-pressure water or inhaling debris can cause detrimental physical impacts and infections, which can lead to serious injury and death.
Additionally, automation can lower costs and help to improve efficiency.
Links
Access the full publication here:
Help us to improve
If you have a suggestion about this content, detect any typo or simply want to send us comments or proposals, you can use the following form to contact EWJI.
