Jet Mole Operations And Safety In High-Pressure Water Field Cleaning
Introduction
In industries, the cleanliness of workpieces, components, and machine elements is necessary for all functioning processes. Industrial parts cleaning is a cost-effective factor in several sectors.
What is high-pressure water cleaning?
High-pressure water cleaning is the application of water ranging between 5,000 to 40,000 psi to eliminate all kinds of unwanted contamination from buildings' surfaces, tanks, streets, bridges, pipes, cars, among others.
It is high-pressure impingement, which helps dislodge dirt from surfaces. The dislodge of dirt happens due to the continuous succession of impacts between liquid or solid particles and a solid surface like a tank.
High-pressure impingement is when forced water runs through water channels, directed to spray arm jets using high-pressure water pumps or machines.
Your cleaning task requirements determine the speed and amount of pressurized water. The high-pressure water cleaning system must achieve the minimum feet per second flow rate for a thorough cleaning job.
Essential Personal protective equipment for industrial high-pressure water cleaning
- Body protection: Wear liquid-resistant suits to help protect your body.
- Head protection: Always wear head protection equipment such as hard hats.
- Eye and face protection: You need to use protective eye and face equipment such as face shields.
- Foot protection: Use steel-toed boots for foot protection when conducting industrial high-pressure cleaning services.
- Hand protection: Wear safety or rubber gloves for ultimate protection for your hands when performing industrial high-pressure water cleaning.
- Ear protection: It is advisable for you to wear earplugs or other suitable ear protection when involved in industrial high-pressure water cleaning operations.
What is the recommended crew size for industrial high-pressure water cleaning?
A minimum of three workers should be involved in an industrial high-pressure water cleaning operation. One pump operator to control the high-pressure pump. One lance operator to control the cleaning lance. A third worker who assists in tasks like;
-Managing the hoses.
-Providing relief in case the other two get tired.
-Controlling access to the worksite.
-Establish effective communication with the pump operator in the absence of a line of sight between the pump operator and the lance operator.
Where the manufacturer’s instructions don’t indicate the minimum number of required workers, a risk assessment must be conducted to establish the requirement.
Where you see a direct line of sight between the pump operator and the lance operator, you may use a crew of only two workers.
Safe work practices to follow when performing industrial high-pressure water cleaning.
- The flex-lance should stand in a safe position where they can control the flex-lance.
- The flex-lance operator must always control the flex-lance.
- The flex-lance operator has to operate the foot dump valve. The operator must react faster than any other crew member in case the pressure needs a decrease.
- Maintain the hose's length between the flex-lance operator and the pipe or tube as short as possible. Long hoses store much energy, and flex-lances tend to recoil.
- Utilize a work platform or scaffold to provide stable footing if the flex-lance operator needs to be raised to a safe operating position. The platform must have sufficient room for the flex-lance operator to operate the foot dump valve and control the flex-lance.
- Keep the operating surface, including any platform or scaffold, free of debris, which may accumulate during the high-pressure cleaning process.
- Ensure that you depressurize the flex-lance before removing it from a tube or pipe.
- Utilize a stinger when completing any flex-lance cleaning. The stinger must be long enough so that the nozzle can’t turn back on itself inside the pipe. Usually, a stinger with a length equal to the maximum inside pipe diameter will prevent a line reversal.
- Never put your hand over any jetting nozzle.
- To avoid hydraulicing, utilize a hose and nozzle assembly with a diameter that's less than two-thirds of the pipe or tube's inside diameter.
- Use warning barriers. Barricades should be put in place to cover the hazard area, and signposts should warn personnel that they are accessing the hazardous site.
- All hoses should be cross-checked for evidence of damage, wear, or irregularities. Make the check periodically during the operation.
- The system shall be wholly flushed with enough water before installing the nozzle. This liquid flush helps to eliminate any contaminants.
- Any electrical equipment in the nearby operation area that poses a hazard to the operator shall be de-energized, shielded, or made safe.
Types of nozzles or jet moles used in industrial high-pressure water cleaning
- Jetting gun nozzles. Jetting gun nozzles are designed to provide a straight-ahead jet or fan jet pattern. Each jet mole type will provide efficiencies for conducting various cleaning tasks. A straight-ahead jet will produce the maximum force to the surface and is ideal for cutting or breaking hard materials.
A fan jet will produce a wide spray pattern and is best utilized for cleaning large surfaces of contaminants or soft coatings.
Self-rotating nozzles offer you the option of combining the attributes of both standard jetting gun nozzle types by providing two or more straight-ahead jets offset to form rotational reaction forces and offer a wide spray pattern.
- Flex-lance nozzles. Flex-lance nozzles are built with several orifices to self-propel the nozzle and provide a 360 degrees jet pattern for washing the internal surfaces of tubes and pipes. The nozzles are organized with forward-facing, rear-facing, and side-facing orifices to give balance and self-propelling properties.
Before you can install any nozzle on a flex-lance, ensure that the orifice pattern is built with rear-facing orifices to provide a forward thrust.
- Mechanized tool nozzles. Nozzles utilized with mechanized tools are available for many industrial applications and are usually made to deliver maximum flow at the desired pressure. With the utilization of mechanized tools, reaction forces to the operator, and the necessity for self-propelling nozzles are usually not an option.
Nozzles can be custom-designed with cutting heads by a water-jetting producer. The advantage of using mechanized tools and nozzles is the higher safety level and high cleaning efficiency, which they all provide.
Access industrial high-pressure water cleaning services today
Accept no substitutes. Only trust Precision Fabricating and Cleaning for all your industrial high-pressure water cleaning services. We acknowledge the importance of safety when conducting any industrial cleaning task and we perform our field cleaning services to the following specs:
0-73579, 1P00070, 1P00071, 24555-GEN-0001, 24555-SPEC-0003, 5-75014, 5-75059, 5-75192, ARP1176, ARP598, ARP599, AS4059, AS598, ASTM D1193, ASTM F312, ASTM F331, ASTM G93, CGA 4.1, IEST-STD-CC1246, ISO 14644 .ISO 14952, JSC-SPEC-C-20C, KSC-C-123 ,MA0110-301, MA0110-301, MAP211025 VC, MIL-PRF-27401, MIL-SPEC-164D, MIL-STD-1246, MIL-STD-1246, MSFC-SPEC-164, NAVY OXYGEN CLEANER NOC, PWA 80-81, RA0110-018, RA0110-046, RA0110-047, RA0110-24, RA1110-022, RA1110-025, RA1610-065, RA1610-075, RA321270, RAPWA80, RAPWASP80, RPTSTD-8070-0001, SAE ARP 598, SAE ARP1176, SN-C-0005, STP0565, STP0637 ,STP1012, RL10012, D-0656395 ,MC072214, B185020, STP 50408, MP 50063, AS 611
Our services exceed the most rigorous industry and manufacturing requirements. We use water blasting equipment and liquid vacuum trucks, and industrial air machines with the latest accessories and attachments to boost performance and safety. Our specialized equipment can deliver up to 40,000 psi of water pressure. Contact us HERE today!
Sources:
- https://www.foodengineeringmag.com/articles/98657-the-basics-of-cleaning-and-sanitation-in-food-plants
- https://www.safetyinfo.com/written-safety-programs-hydro-blast-hydroblast-workplace-safety-program-free-index/
- https://www.woma-group.com/en/industry-solutions-applications/ultra-high-pressure-pplications.html
- https://www.uraca.com/en/applications/cleaning/parts-cleaning/
- https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/2174/high-pressure-water-cleaning
- https://www.unitracc.com/technical/books/rehabilitation-and-maintenance-of-drains-and-sewers/maintenance-and-cleaning/cleaning/high-pressure-water-jetting-process-hp-water-jetting-process-en/inhalt