Tank cleaning

Which cleaning fluid is used in the cleaning cycle?

Cleaning fluid characteristics will affect tank washer selection.

If the cleaning fluid is a solvent it can cause an explosive atmosphere in the tank, which requires an ATEX exempt tank cleaning nozzle.
Cleaning fluid with high viscosity affects flow and pressure, which in turn should be taken into account when selecting a suitable tank cleaning nozzle.
If the cleaning fluid dissolves the product easily only a low power tank cleaning nozzle is required. However, if the cleaning fluid will need some power to do its job, then a jetting unit will be more appropriate.
To make the cleaning process more efficient, cleaning fluids are sometimes used at high temperatures, which may affect the choice of tank cleaning nozzle.
Sometimes different cleaning fluids might be used at different stages of the cleaning cycle. Therefore it is important that the tank washer chosen can function correctly with all types of fluids used.

Some chemicals present in the cleaning fluid can affect seals, bearings and other components/materials. A highly acidic atmosphere will affect stainless steel. Hastelloy would therefore be more appropriate.
High temperatures can affect the material, leading to major problems. Special attention should be paid to products made of certain plastic materials.
Food grade products require specific surface finish requirements and the tank cleaning nozzle needs to fulfil these requirements.

If the cleaning fluid contains particles, a pre-filter might be needed. Or, a tank cleaning nozzle designed to cope with particles in the cleaning fluid could be a good alternative.