First time users of ultrasonic cleaners may be forgiven for assuming that the cleaning solution they prepare by mixing the cleaning liquid in water to the desired concentration and pour into the stainless steel tank is ready to go; particularly if one is using the brand of cleaning liquid recommended by the manufacturer. What is not easily apparent that the cleaning solution, especially if it has been freshly prepared, contains large bubbles of air bubbles entrained in it.

For effective ultrasonic cleaners, the entrapped air needs to be removed before starting the cleaning process. To understand why, you need to have basic knowledge of how an ultrasonic cleaner works. The tank of a cleaner has a transducer which generates high energy and frequency ultrasound waves. These waves permeate through the cleaning medium and produce millions of microscopic vacuum bubbles which implode against the surfaces of the parts being cleaned and suck out dirt and other contaminants. This action is defined as cavitation. If the cleaning solution has entrapped air, these bubbles will form prematurely and become too big, which in turn, will escape from the bath without imploding.

Degassing of the cleaning solution can be achieved by heating it. However, this is not a very efficient process and takes considerable time. Better and faster results can be obtained by using an ultrasonic cleaner which has an inbuilt Degas mode (e.g. Elmasonic E series). The Degas mode works by effecting very short breaks that can be measured in milliseconds, during the ultrasonic operation. What this does is to allow quick release of the air bubbles contained in the cleaning solution, enabling them to rise to the surface and escape into the atmosphere much faster. Remember that degassing is usually required only when a fresh cleaning solution is placed in the tank. Hence, the Degas mode need not be run for every subsequent use. Running the cleaner in the “sweep” or standard mode will suffice.

Some manufacturers do not favor the above method of generating pulses on and off to achieve degassing. The primary reason they advance is that, though this process does facilitate the rise of entrapped air bubbles to rise quickly to the surface of the liquid, it does not quite justify the complex circuitry required necessitates additional controls in the equipment. Without getting contentious about it Degassing is always beneficial in preparing your cleaning solvent. While some operators may not practice this in the interests of saving time, it is nevertheless worth noting that a degassed tank of cleaning liquid will invariably provide more effective cleaning than a non-degassed tank.

For normal cleaning jobs, of small and medium size, the degassing operation should take only about 5 to 10 minutes. Of course, the actual time required will depend on the size of the cleaning bath and, consequently, the volume of cleaning solution it holds. It also depends on the quantity of air trapped within the liquid and the ultrasonic power applied. For large industrial applications, where cleaning baths of 100 gallons capacity and above are used, the degassing will naturally take longer.

Author Bio: Firoze Hirjikaka is a retired Civil/Structural Engineer with a Master’s degree from London University. He explores his passion for scientific & engineering equipment at Tovatech, a leading American supplier of ultrasonic cleaner units. For more details on this article please visit the ultrasonic cleaners section of Tovatech’s site.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: ultrasonic cleaner, ultrasonic cleaner efficiency, Degas mode, ultrasonic cleaning solution