The Cyberjet is the worlds' first operational tank washing robot apt
for conventional internal cleaning of tanks. It is the 'high end' of currently
available cleaning apparatus. The Cyberjet has been developed both to comply
to the diminishing levels of pollution allowed in the products that are
to be stored in the cleaned tanks, and to comply to increasingly stringent
environmental demands. The Cyberjet combines thorough cleaning with extreme
economy, resulting in spectacular savings in time, water, energy, cleaning
agents and waste water, allowing for a substantial reduction of the operational
costs of the washing process.
Description
The Cyberjet is a programmable machine that controls the jet(s) of
cleaning fluid in a very sophisticated way. It has a stainless steel rotatable
head with a rotatable nozzle which is placed in a fixed location in the
tank. By means of controlling the two rotations using a polar-coordinate
model, the jet's spraying direction can be steered with any speed into
any chosen direction. The programming is such that the trajectory
of the jet's impingement point covers the tank's inner surface in a systematic
way.
The movement of the head is driven entirely outside of the tank by
two stepping motors. Inside the tank there are no electrical components.
The advanced electronic motion controller of the Cyberjet is a programmable
device with several PLC functions (analog and digital in- and outputs).
As a whole, it can be constructed explosion proof (EEx).
Philosophy
Ordinary tank cleaning devices are built to perform a 360 degree cleaning
using a minimum of gears. Its design dates back before the 1930's. Since
the shape of the tank is not taken into account, some places in the tank
receive far to much water while other's remain almost dry. The lack of
systematic coverage causes recontamination with residu streaming down from
higher places. The idea behind the Cyberjet is that the pollution is removed
systematically and with exactly the right intensity. Ten years of research
at the Delft University of Technology resulted in several process optimizations.
Since the Cyberjet's cleaning pattern is devised by software, an optimum
cleaning performance can be obtained any kind or shape of tank.
Usability
The Cyberjet is meant for all tanks or spaces that have to be cleaned
or desinfected on a regular basis. Especially for medium or large tanks
the Cyberjet it is most fit, e.g: Production, transport or storage tanks
for chemicals, foods, drinks, dairy products; tanks used by brewerys; fermentors,
reactors, tanker cars, tanker ships, railtanks etc. Since cleaning doesn't
have to be 360 degrees round, the Cyberjet can also be used for open containers,
hygienic wet rooms, slaughter houses etc. The choice of material and the
design allow the use of almost any solvent or temperature.
Sanitary design
In order to make the Cyberjet applicable in the food and drink industry,
it's design complies to the requirements set by the EHEDG (European Hygienic
Engineering Design Group). There are no dead corners, bolts, connections
or cavities where bacterials can remain. After use it will drain itself
completely. In use, the bearings are flushed with washing liquid and its
exterior showers itself.
New cleaning techniques
The Cyberjet is the first automated machine that can economically apply
recently developed cleaning techniques, such as non-circulating use of
cleaning-foams or -gels. The Cyberjet will at first apply a concentrated
layer of cleaning agent, which will be rinsed out together with the pollution
after a certain pre-set soaking time. Since recirculation is unnecessary,
this technique saves the investment of a complete CIP installation.
Intensity optimization
The cleaning intensity is the product of two important parameters:
The pattern density, L, and the transversal velocity, V, of the impingement
point of the jet over the target surface. In the ideal situation the surface
is entirely washed with the same intensity, hence V x L amounts the
same constant value anywhere.
Since the nozzles of an ordinary tank cleaning machine's nozzle rotate
at a fixed speed, V and L are a function of the size and geometry of the
tank. As a rule of thumb doubling the distance decreases the cleaning intensity
by a factor 8.
The required cleaning intensity depends on type and severity of the
pollution, resulting in values of V and L as a function of tank geometry.
The Cyberjet's rotational direction and speed of the nozzle are determined
in such a way that the cleaning pattern obeys these ideal values anywhere
in the tank.
Logistical-optimization
Since the tank has to be cleaned entirely, the trajectory of the jet's
impingement point covers the whole of the tanks inner surface. In this,
many optimizations have been applied. For instance, the effect of gravity
and the direction in which the fluid disperses from the target area are
taken into account, preventing re-contamination of previously cleaned areas.
As much as possible, the impingement point traverses perpendicularly to the heartline of the jet, thus maximizing the width of the cleaned area. For sharper the impingement angles, L should be larger and V should be smaller. Furthermore, the displacement direction of the dirt is taken into account. Each jet passage sweeps the pollution further down.
In case of the Cyberjet being used as spreading device for a concentrated
cleaning agent, the optimal pattern is almost equal to the optimal removal
pattern, except that for it's excution in opposite direction.
Areas with special attention
Apart from Cyberjet cleaning many times faster than a conventional
machine, things really get interesting when areas are present that
are harder to clean. The Cyberjet is capabe of spot-washing, e.g. for drainage
sinks, connecting pipe ends, etc. Furthermore it can perform rim-washing,
e.g. for the removal of the burn-yeast rim in a beertank which developes
at the gas-fluid level. Unter these conditions conventional washing heads
achieve very poor cleaning results. In each conventional half-hour washing
cycle only the jets remain in the problem area for only a fwe seconds.
In these cases the Cyberjet presents an excellent solution to this problem.
History
The Cyberjet is the brainchild of Ir. D.G.F. Verbeek. He has
been connected to the Delft University of Technology from 1987 till 1993
where he was the primary executioner of two research projects in the gathering
of theoretical and practical knowledge concerning the cleaning of tanks.
In 1988 he graduated on the subject for the Faculty of Physics, after which
he continued his research, first as draft replacement and later as PhD
student.
The first Cyberjet was developed as a research instrument. It appeared that applying an optimized cleaning pattern in a simple tank would lead to savings by a factor of 20 in time and in the amount of water used.
After the T.U.Delft, mr. Verbeek, now with his own company Tank Cleaning
Engineering, has put himself primarily to the further development and perfecting
of the Cyberjet and the software applying to tank cleaning.
Investment
Although a Cyberjet is more expensive than ordinary tank-washing heads,
this does not necessarily apply to the price of a total cleaning system.
Because of the greater effective reach compared to ordinary machines, the
system can be fitted with a lesser number of them. Since the Cyberjet may
use a single nozzle where conventional machines use four, the pump capacity
is comparatively lower, which means savings on pumps, pipes, valves, CIP
tanks etc.
Pay-back time
In those cases where the Cyberjet is to replace existing tank washing
machines the repayment time depends upon the circumstances. In the case
of tanker ships the most important cleaning-related costs derive from the
processing of slops. The Cyberjet will repay its investment in the matter
of one, or a few at worst, years. In all cases current cleaning costs have
to be evaluated before the pay-back time can be estimated.
Delivery
The Cyberjet will exclusively be delivered on order. The time required
for delivery is 4 months. Case-bound and optimized software is included
in the delivery. Integration with other systems is an option. Controlling
the Cyberjet with, or allowing it to be controlled by, other PLC's or apparatus
belongs to the possibilities.
Ordering or more information: send Email to D.G.F Verbeek
Where can I find Tank Cleaning Engineering
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