Dry the tank of your dry ice blasting machine before use: why?
Dry ice blasting involves projecting dry ice pellets onto surfaces to be cleaned. This process generates no secondary waste. To optimize the effectiveness of this technology, it is essential to properly prepare your dry ice blasting equipment. In this article, we will discuss the importance of drying the tank of your dry ice blaster before each use…
Ensuring the effectiveness of the dry ice blasting process
To maximize the effectiveness of the cryogenic cleaning, be sure to eliminate any source of moisture that could be present in the tank, as well as inside the blast nozzle and discharge hose. When the Carbon dioxide ice comes into contact with water or condensation, it becomes covered with a layer of ice. This causes it to stick to the tank walls and results in blockages forming at the tank base.
Dry ice can also, due to moisture, clump together inside the nozzle and/or discharge hose. In this case, the overall performance of the blasting process can be compromised, reducing the quality and effectiveness of the work performed.
Discover in the video below how to dry the tank of your dry ice blasting machine Cryoblaster. Applies to the vast majority of equipment on the market.
Video : to dry the tank of your Cryoblaster before and after work, alternate external and internal blasting. Obviously, blasting must be performed with an empty tank, that is, with no dry ice present inside. As a reminder, the idea is to remove any moisture traces from inside the tank, as well as from inside the discharge hose and blast nozzle...
Restricting potentially harmful pollution
Unlike what some websites may suggest, dry ice blasting is not a disinfection method glace sèche n'est pas une méthode de désinfection. However, this technique has a bacteriostaticeffect, meaning it strictly inhibits the growth of bacteria.
A poorly dried tank can increase the risk of contamination by moisture, bacteria and other microorganisms. To avoid cross-contamination., clean and dry the tank before and after each use. Indeed, a humid environment promotes the multiplication of pathogenic germs that could be harmful to people's health.
To avoid problems, it is also recommended to clean the inside of your blaster. This is particularly important if you work in sensitive areas such as the medical ou food industry.
Monitoring compressed air quality
It is also essential, to prevent any contamination, to monitor the quality of compressed air. The compressed air used in the industrial dry ice blasting process must be filtered et dehumidified to remove particles and moisture that could affect the cleanliness of the cleaned surfaces. But that's not all... Humid compressed air can rise to the base of the dry ice tank, promoting, as mentioned earlier, the formation of blockages!
It is therefore advisable to use dry compressed air, but also to use high-quality air filters and change them regularly to ensure effective filtration.
Maintaining consistent compressed air quality
Compressed air drying systems are essential to guarantee the quality of air used in industrial processes, including dry ice blasting.
There are several types of compressed air drying systems, including refrigeration dryers, adsorption dryers and membrane dryers. Refrigeration dryers use a cooling system to condense the moisture present in compressed air, then separate it from the air. Adsorption dryers use adsorbent materials to trap moisture, while membrane dryers use a special membrane to separate moisture from compressed air.
Remember, compressed air drying systems help prevent moisture-related problems, optimize equipment efficiency, and ensure high-quality cleaning results.
Optimizing workplace safety for operators
It is critical to implement all necessary measures to ensure the well-being and protection of people working on site.
Let's imagine the following situation: the operator has properly prepared his dry ice blasting for cleaning live electrical cabinets, as specified in the factory's industrial cleaning contract. He has also ensured that the tank of his dry ice blaster is dry. Then he takes a break: his tank is empty, no more dry ice.
Upon his return, he directly puts dry ice inside the tank without drying it first. Here's what could happen:
- Electrocution: water present inside the nozzle, discharge hose, and tank causes an electrical arc when blasting live electrical components
- The operator started by cleaning the external doors: residual moisture was expelled, but some of the Carbon dioxide ice begins to clump together inside the tank, blast nozzle, and discharge hose. The dry ice blasting will stop in a moment, due to the formation of blockages...
IMPORTANT : Operations performed under voltage require specific documentation, such as requests, work orders, or authorizations for work under voltage. After completing training provided by a certified organization, the employer issues staff a special qualification, indicated by the letter "T" for work under voltage or "N" for cleaning under voltage, in accordance with INRS guidelines.
Even if your dry ice blasting machine has nozzles dedicated to live electrical cleaning: humid compressed air, or residual water presence, at the tank, discharge hose, and blast nozzle level, represent a danger! The takeaway: use dry compressed air, and ensure that the tank, discharge hose, and blast nozzle of your dry ice blasting machine are dry! Watch the video above.
In summary
Here is a summary et of some additional information that you may find useful:
- To ensure the proper operation and longevity of your dry ice blasting machine, it is important to apply a few simple practices to completely remove moisture la tank.
- Leave the tank open to the air (open the cover) for a few minutes to promote natural evaporation of residual water.
- If water remains on the walls: use a clean, dry clothto wipe the inside of the tank after each cleaning operation. To do this, make sure to power off your blaster, by unplugging it from the electrical outlet et of compressed air source.
- Finally, you can perform a blast, as shown in the video above, to expel residual water at the bottom of the tank, inside the discharge hose, and inside the nozzle.
In short, dry the tank of your dry ice blasting machine before use is a crucial step to ensure will deliver results. du process, preserve the quality of the surface being treated, and guarantee the safety safety of the user. By following the best practices described above, you will ensure a safe and hygienic environment for operators while extending the life of your equipment.
Good to know: upon impact, the transition of dry ice pellets from solid to gaseous state creates micro-explosions. The surface is then freed of contaminants. This is due to 3 phenomena: kinetic energy, the temperature difference between the ice and the contaminant, which creates a thermal shock. You can thus clean a production line without chemicals. Discover the advantages of dry ice blasting by following this link.
