How to lower your cost when changing colors or flushing a fluid line
One of the major uses for solvent in a spray finishing system is flushing out a paint line when changing colors cleaning the system. This is typically done with a straight solvent flush. Solvent flowing through a hose will travel in what is termed a laminar flow (see figure 1). Since the path of least resistance is down the middle, it takes a lot of solvent to clean the inside perimeter of the hose.
Figure 1 – Laminar flow
By injecting air into the solvent supply, the laminar flow changes to a turbulent flow (see figure 2). This turbulent flow gives us the following benefits:
Solvent savings (typically around 75%)
Time savings (typically around 38%)
Less solvent cost
Less disposal costs
Cleaner equipment
Fewer color matching problems
Figure 2 – Turbulent flow
Air Solvent mix device test
- 25’ ?” id hose
- Paint used: Automotive lacquer
- Viscosity: 24 seconds #4 Ford
- Solvent: Lacquer Thinner
- 20.7 Fl. Oz. Difference
- Calculating Savings:
- 77.8% Solvent
- 39% Time
Annual Example:
- 20.7 fl. oz. X 8 Color Changes / flushes per day X 240 Days/year = 39744 Total fl. oz. Saved per year
- 39,744 Total fl. Oz. ÷ 128 oz per gal = 310 gallons per year
- 310 gals X $9.00 per gal = $2790 solvent savings
- Multiply above times Total Qty. of Guns!
- 310 gals. X 8 lbs VOC per gal = 2480 lbs saved per year
- 1.24 tons saved per year
- This does not include permits, disposal costs, filters, etc.
Call your Binks/DeVilbiss representative for more information on the air/solvent mix equipment.
Source: www.BINKS.com