Pure Water General Information Pure water is water without any detergent or other chemical additives. Pure water may simply be tap water or may be deionized, filtered water. Water works very well as an energy transfer fluid in spray systems. If you are removing chips or particles that don't require some type of chemical solvency, water is an excellent option. Water can work well in gross or bulk decontamination such as the removal of dirt, grit, or grease. High-pressure spray or steam would be best for this application. High-pressure water has been used to remove mill scale from steel, barnacles from ship hulls, and paint from aircraft and to clear clogged pipelines. Water is also an excellent fluid for use with ultrasonic systems. Water is very good at removing potentially damaging chlorides or other salts. Many types of existing equipment can be converted to water with minimal effort. The major concern will be corrosion i.e. can the system pumps and tanks handle water without corroding. The major process issue with a water cleaning system is the possible requirement for a drying system. Common drying systems include forced hot air, infrared heating, or centrifugal spinoff. It is possible that the use of hot water will raise the part temperature enough to provide adequate flash drying. The condition of your incoming water will have a major effect on the efficiency of water cleaning. Water hardness and other chemical properties vary widely from region to region. State Information | Glossary | Conversion Checklist | Comments Home | Process Advisor | Alternatives | Links | Search All SAGE material, Copyright© 1992, Research Triangle Institute Last Update: 18 March 1995 sage@rti.org http://clean.rti.org/alt.cfm?id=wt&cat=gi