Hydrocleaning

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Hydrocleaning, or High pressure cleaning, involves the use of water propelled at high speeds to clean surfaces and materials of all types. By focusing and pressurizing the water stream, one can use the force generated to remove, for example:

Rubber removed from runway using ultrahigh pressure water
  • Paint from walls, metal, and highways
  • Rubber from runways(Airfield rubber removal)
  • Sealants and membranes from concrete
  • Gum from side walks

Contents

[edit] Pressures

In order 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:

  1. Low-Pressure Water Cleaning(LP WC)- is the use of water pressure less than 5,000 psi (34 MPa) for cleaning.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Ultrahigh-Pressure Water Jetting is the use of pressures above 25,000 (170 MPa) for cleaning.

[edit] Applications

[edit] Surface Preparation

Any time a hard surface, such as asphalt, concrete or metal, needs to have a coating applied, the surface must first be prepared. The use of high pressure and ultra high pressure water has been used to prepare various surfaces for the purpose of repair and reapplication of such coatings. Coatings are used to protect concrete from the elements, rain, salt, and to create a friendlier surface for human use. Concrete can also be covered with carpet or tiles using a heavy duty glue or mastic. Asphalt and concrete can be painted to communicate acceptable travel patterns, potential hazards, or for aesthetics. High pressure water can be used to clean these materials off when new ones are desired.

Partially shredded membrane from a hydrocleaning surface preparation job.

High pressure water has been used to remove:

  • Membranes:
    • Elastomeric
    • Rubber
    • Urethane
    • Hot applied
  • Paint from:
    • Highways
    • Runways
    • Parking structures
    • Metal surfaces

[edit] Surface Cleaning

[edit] Runway Rubber Removal

Commercial and Military airports are required to keep certain levels of friction on the landing strips in order to prevent planes from skidding off. Runway design, weather and amount of rubber on the runway all play a role in the level of friction of a landing strip. If too much rubber is present, especially in rainy weather, the friction of the landing strip will be lower requiring more distance for the plane to land. If there is more distance required to land than existing runway, the plane will end up going off the end of the runway. High pressure water can be used to remove rubber left from airplane tires and restore required friction levels. The level of use, number of landings, determines how often each runway needs to be cleaned. This process of removal is sometimes known as Airfield rubber removal.

[edit] General Cleaning

High pressure water can be used to clean a multitude of surfaces that have been dirtied by:

[edit] External Links

[edit] References

Steel Structures Painting Council.(1995). Surface Preparation and Cleaning fo Steel and Other Hard Materials by High- and Ultrahigh-Pressure Water Jetting Prior to Recoating. Pittsburgh, PA. SSPC

U.S. Water Jet Technology Association,Recommended Practices for the Use of Manually Operated High-Pressure Water Jetting Equipment St.Louis, MO: US Water Jet Technology Association, 1987