Cleaning of production halls and equipment

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Cleaning of production halls and equipment in Chemical Industry


1. OBJECTIVE

Due to the frequent product changes, well established cleaning procedures are required to avoid cross-contamination, e.g. for the production of intermediates and APIs. The cleaning of equipment, such as reactors, centrifuges and sieves is carried out using water, sodium hydroxide, hydrochloric acid, acetone, specific solvents and steam, depending on the equipment or substances to be cleaned. The cleaning process is finished with water to rinse or with an organic solvent (water free rinsing) where the drying of the equipment is important. (BAT on Organic Fine Chemicals, Aug. 2006)


2. FIELD OF APPLICATION

Cleaning of production halls and equipment is performed in all industries and production processes.


3. DESCRIPTION OF TECHNIQUES, METHODS AND EQUIPMENT

The cleaning process can be carried out in different ways (BAT on Organic Fine Chemicals, Aug. 2006):


With hoses:

Cleaning is carried out with pressurised water from a hose to reduce water consumption.


Cleaning-in-place units (CIP):

Different systems of cleaning have been established to limit emissions and to improve efficiency, such as the CIP system, Cleaning-in-place allows equipment to be cleaned directly inside with water scatterers under pressure and allows cleaning liquids to be recovered (where the operator is not concerned about cross-contamination). CIP also enables the operator to carry out the cleaning process without the need to take the equipment apart or for workers to enter the vessels.


4. COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGIES AND ENERGY SAVING POTENTIALS

a) Changes in the process

No information is available.


b) Changes in the energy distribution system

Water heating by waste streams: (Joanneum Research)

The cleaning of production halls and equipment requires warm water. Waste streams can be recycled and used in heat exchangers for heating up the water for cleaning. This re-use of waste streams can reduce the energy consumption for the process.


c) Changes in the heat supply system

No information is available.


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