The shift towards automated tank cleaning is becoming increasingly critical in today’s industrial landscape. This article offers insight into how automation not only surpasses manual cleaning in efficiency and effectiveness, but also aligns with the pressing need for sustainability and safety in operations.
Monitor Engineering (sole agent for Spraying Systems Co. USA) has for over 75 years been helping its customers to keep their tanks clean.
Manual vs automatic tank cleaning
Whether dealing with chemicals, food and beverage processing remnants, or other industrial by-products, ensuring tanks are thoroughly cleaned is crucial for operational success.
Traditional manual cleaning methods often fall short due to variability and inefficiency and can also pose safety risks for workers if they need to enter tanks to clean them. From reducing labour costs to enhancing sustainability, automated systems offer a compelling alternative for the future of tank cleaning.
Green cleaning: How tank cleaning choices affect the environment
Tank cleaning is a water intensive process and overuse can accumulate into thousands of gallons wasted annually. With an automatic tank cleaner, such as a rotating spray ball, total coverage of the tank is achieved, with minimal water use. The following section explores how the different methods of tank cleaning align with sustainability goals, focusing on water and energy usage, chemical use, and waste management.
Water and energy usage
Automatic tank cleaning systems are significantly more efficient in terms of water and energy conservation. Recently, a chemical manufacturer implemented TankJet® nozzles in their cleaning process. This switch led to a 65% reduction in water usage and halved their cleaning time.
Similarly, food processing plants have seen substantial savings in water and energy with automated tank cleaning. Key benefits include more efficient use of cleaning fluids, consistent and safer cleaning processes, and a notable decrease in maintenance and downtime. Automated systems offer reliability and repeatability, crucial for maintaining high hygiene standards in the food industry.
Chemical use and waste management
Manual cleaning often requires large amounts of chemicals, which poses environmental risks and raises concerns about worker safety. Automated systems, however, can be precisely calibrated to use the exact amount of chemicals needed for effective cleaning thereby reducing the volume of chemicals used and the amount of hazardous waste generated.
Moreover, the wastewater from tank cleaning processes must be treated before disposal. Automated systems result in less contaminated wastewater. This is crucial in complying with increasingly stringent environmental regulations.
Why automate your tank cleaning operations?
- Better and more consistent cleaning results
- Increased production time
- Reduced energy consumption
- Reduced cleaning fluid consumption
- Reduced manual labour
What’s the verdict?
Automatic systems stand out for their efficiency and resource conservation, offering consistent and thorough cleaning that aligns with the growing focus on sustainability. The initial investment in these systems is often balanced by long-term savings in labour, resources, and operational downtime.
To find out more about automatic tank cleaning options, contact Monitor Engineering for a no charge site audit.
