Hydro Cleaning and Water Jetters
Jetters used in the plumbing community are used mostly for hydro cleaning. The definition of hydrocleaning or waterblasting is the use of water propelled at high speeds to clean surfaces and materials. By focusing and pressurizing the water stream, the force generated can remove paint from walls, metal, and highways, rubber from runways sealants and membranes from concrete.
To standardize cleaning operations and surface preparation specifications, the Steel Structures Painting Council (SSPC) has adopted the following four definitions for cleaning operations using water jetting technology:
• Low-pressure water cleaning (LP WC) is the use of water pressure less than 5,000 psi (34 MPa) for cleaning.
• High-pressure water cleaning (HP WC) is the use of water pressure between 5,000 to 10,000 psi (34 to 70 MPa) for cleaning.
• High-pressure water jetting (HP WJ) is the use of water pressure between 10,000 to 25,000 psi (70 to 170 MPa) for cleaning.
• Ultrahigh-pressure water jetting is the use of pressures above 25,000 (170 MPa) for cleaning.
Before using a water jetter, equipment should be checked and be sure it is safe to use with no obvious signs of wear. The area where the work is to be carried out should also be assessed. If the problem is a blocked drainage system, for example, it is very important to know what may be causing the blockage. It may be a broken pipe, ingrown tree roots or in the case of bad weather, debris carried by the water. If using water jetter in public areas, always insure that people are at a safe distance and well protected.
When it is safe to proceed, a water jetter will be connected to a water supply. After choosing what type of nozzle to use and making sure that it is securely connected to the lance, a water jetter should be directed towards the surface that is to be cleaned or into the pipes that are in need of unblocking.
Since it takes a lot of skill to use the equipment, only trained persons should handle such equipment.
Water jetters use high pressure (HP) jet equipment to clean the surfaces of:
• paving slabs
• patios
• concrete surfaces
• marble
• brickwork
• road surfaces
• walls and buildings
• vehicles.
High Pressure jets are also used for:
• cleaning drains and sewers
• industrial descaling and desilting
• boiler tube cleaning
• cleaning inside cooling towers
• removing water and debris from manholes
• concrete removal from bridges or road surfaces.
Water jets operate at a variety of pressures. Ultra high pressure (UHP) water jets operate at an extremely high pressure and can be used to cut through steel. They are also used for:
• cold-cutting pipes and tank plates
• removing oil, paint and food by-product residues.
• the removal of surface coatings
• cleaning and cutting by marine chemical companies.
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Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Hydro Cleaning and Water Jetters