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Longworth DEECOM - Superheated Steam Cleaning System
The DEECOM Superheated Steam Cleaning System is designed to effectively remove polymers from filters and production equipment using superheated steam. This patented process by Longworth utilizes a combination of pressure swings, involving compression and decompression cycles, to tackle frozen polymers contaminating components and assemblies. Operating in a controlled environment, the system`s custom pressure vessel encases the items to be cleaned, where superheated steam heats polymers to temperatures exceeding 250°C, triggering melting and hydrolysis. During decompression, the steam transforms to superheated water, penetrating polymer fissures, and boiling upon rapid pressure reduction, breaking down polymers into particles and fragments. This cycle is repeated automatically, preserving the integrity of filter media and metal structures.
The DEECOM process uses a combination of superheated steam pressure swings or compression/decompression cycles to remove frozen polymer from contaminated components and assemblies. The process takes place in a controlled environment contained within a custom designed pressure vessel.
The components to be cleaned are enclosed in the pressure vessel and the pressure in the vessel is then rapidly decreased by opening the blowdown valves. Depending on the polymer type, temperatures above 250oC will melt or soften the polymer and a degree of hydrolysis will occur.
When at pressure, the steam will penetrate fissures in the polymer where it condenses as superheated water. On decompression, it boils, instantly cracking the polymer and carrying away broken particles along with the softened, degraded polymer fragments from the outer faces.
The pressure swing cycle is then repeated at frequent intervals and controlled automatically with no detrimental effect on the integrity of filter media or metal structure.
To date, Longworth Engineering has built and commissioned DEECOM® systems on three different continents for a wide range of clients.
The smallest machine we have supplied was to a well-known North American filter manufacturer and had a vessel capacity of 20 litres. The largest machine to date was built for a Korean high-quality PET film producer and had a process vessel volume capacity of 3500 litres.
Using computer aided design techniques and modern manufacturing process, Longworth can build virtually any configuration to suit our customers’ individual needs.