Low Pressure Sprays (Rotary Spray Washers) Overview Low-pressure sprays (pressures below 200 to 300 psi) are used to remove loose debris, to dissolve soils, and to rinse parts. They work best on contaminants that are soluble in the spray liquid or have been loosened with another process, such as ultrasonics or high-pressure sprays. Low-pressure sprays may not remove tightly adhered particles. Low-pressure sprays can produce all levels of cleanliness. Most cleaning chemistries are compatible with low-pressure sprays. However, soaps with low foaming characteristics are recommended. Because flammable or combustible liquids become explosive when sprayed, they should only be used in applications with proper safety precautions, such as fire suppression systems or inert gas blanketing. Process equipment varies from manual spray wands to highly automated systems with custom spray headers. Low-pressure sprays are very common as parts of larger cleaning systems. Equipment costs are generally lower than ultrasonics but higher than immersion. Most of the cost will come from the system plumbing, that is, the pump and filtration system. State Information | Glossary | Conversion Checklist | Comments Home | Process Advisor | Alternatives | Links | Search All SAGE material, Copyright© 1992, Research Triangle Institute Last Update: 15 March 1995 sage@rti.org http://clean.rti.org/alt.cfm?id=lp&cat=ov