I’m having a hard time cleaning my solvent tank and was hoping people might be able to share some advice? I haven’t found a thread like this but I can’t be the only one with this issue! My tank is tall and narrow 17.5 gallons and holds ~70lbs with a 4" triclamp opening. Any advice I’m sure is better than my current “tek” (broom handle with rags zip tied on) lol. Thanks!
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Look up Clean-in-place (CIP) chemicals for stainless steel. Talk to the various distributors to help you pick one that is right for the chemicals you are running. They may be a combination of acid and base products. Here is a google search that produced some useful starting off points. I am sure other members will recommend a specific chemical brand for you. Good luck!
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I think I’m gonna try this :
Dump a gallon of 99% iso in the bottom of my recovery tank, put the lid back on, and open one of the top valves a little bit.
Use an air compressor to shoot it around from the liquid valve at the bottom of my tank (I have a gun attachment with a rubber stopper at the end).
Drain it out and fill the tank with distilled water to flush it completely (might be able to shoot less around like the alcohol?)
Then either set the tank in my dehum tent or attempt to dry with an air compressor. I think it should work pretty well and cost around $50 but I’m still interested in others input. I was also wondering if it’s ok to hold solvent in my material columns and collection pot while I do this whole tear down? Hopefully it wouldn’t take more than a few hrs (I don’t have another tank.) Material columns are (4) 4×8 and the collection pot is 12x36 with a hemi lid and base. Thanks!
Slaw,
You can purchase used, food grade, 270 or 300gal, plastic totes off craiglist and facebook in most areas for $20-50. They’re awesome for situations like yours, just make sure you sterilize it before use.
Just sont have any heat applied, are you using n-tane. Thats how i did it id empty the 200lbs into the system and then clean tank repull vac and tuen on the pumps. Im running straight ntane
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A stick and a micro fiber rag duct taped to end of it was my go to tool.
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There are multiple ways to clean the interior of the tank. Be careful when revalving after your interior clean. Metal trimming can sneak into the tank, so I’d clean the valve and diptube if you can and make sure the general area where you do this is very clean. Make sure to blow some gas through the diptube as an extra precaution to get anything unwanted out of there. If I was you I’d use another solvent to wash the inside of the tank or even give it a wash with some butane and discard. Please don’t use water on the interior! After your clean turn it upside down suspended in the air, wait 24 hours to air dry, pop the valve back on, and good to go. When you put the valve back on please look up the correct amount of torque needed to reinstall the valve.
PS-We use a proprietary interior cleaning method to clean all our tanks. Definitely agree that sanitation is key.
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