Water Blasting
Water-Blasting, sometimes referred to as Hydro-Lasing, is an industrial cleaning process that utilizes water at high pressure to clean a piece of equipment, storage/process tank or a structure in a chemical free, high impact process.
Water blasting pressures can range from 5,000 to 40,000 psi. It can be used not only for cleaning but also to cut various materials such as steel (tanks walls and steel cylinders) and concrete. Most often, water volumes generated by this process are between 3 to 30 gpm (gallons per minute).
A Hand Lance (or Shotgun) is a hand held and operated tool that is used for general cleaning. The lance/shotgun is accompanied by a variety of nozzles, of differing sizes. The nozzles are secured to the end of the barrel. The nozzles produce a water spray that is straight or fanned. Multiple nozzles can be used in a spinner device to increase the speed of the cleaning process. The nozzle used for each project is tailored to the job that is to be completed. The Hand Lance is a very common method used for high pressure water cleaning.
Line jetting uses a larger diameter hose (0.25 inch - 0.75 inch) and self-rotating head, which contains multiple nozzles that spray water to the pipe sidewalls in many directions. Increase the hose diameter and nozzle size and this can also be used to clean the interior of larger diameter piping 3" to 18". The nozzles are self-propelled. The head directs much of the water pressure backward which pushes the head through the piping. Hoses can be attached together for cleaning longer lengths of pipe. This process is great for cleaning larger piping, like those used to move chemicals, wastewater treatment and sewer discharge.
Line Lancing uses a small diameter (1/8" - ½" O.D.) flexible hose, a foot-pedal control and a small nozzle on the end of the Line Lance. These small diameter hoses have a nozzle attached to the end of the hose, similar to the hand lance. The line lance is used to clean the interior surfaces of small diameter pipes, such as chemical supply lines, heat exchanger bundles, and other various small diameter pipes. The line lances can be used on all lengths of pipes and multiple hoses can be connected together to clean longer pipe runs.
Abrasive cutting uses ultra-high pressure (40,000 psi) water and an abrasive media to cut through steel and concrete. Its value lies in the fact that the cutting process is spark free and can be used where flammable conditions exist. Its uses include: cutting precise openings in concrete walls and floors, cutting and sizing of metal tanks, cutting cylinders and piping, and cutting access openings in the side walls of tanks.