High pressure cleaning and decontamination system
US7140954B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 21, 2004 |
| Grant date | Nov 28, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB24C3/06
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Abrasive cleaning and decontamination methods and systems are disclosed. The methods and systems use a high pressure liquefied gas, such as carbon dioxide, which produces insignificant quantities of secondary waste. These principles of the invention exploit the properties of the relatively high triple point of CO2 in order to first pressurize it to 35,000 to 60,000 PSI from a pressurized liquid. In the pressurized state, such a fluid can be at or above room temperature, allowing for transport over long distances in a flexible high pressure hose. At a point of use, a heat exchanger may subsequently chill the liquid, so that after expansion through a small high pressure orifice, a significant fraction of the liquid is converted to solid phase crystals exiting at high velocity to effectively clean and decontaminate. For more aggressive cleaning, abrasive particles and/or small diameter solid CO2 pellets can be entrained into the high pressure CO2 slipstream.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.