Spotlight on the PAL barrel drag out reduction system

Spotlight on the PAL barrel drag out reduction system

Keywords: Environment, Water, Waste

With escalating costs of water and stricter environmental legislation being passed, an increasing amount of interest is being shown in PAL's barrel drag out reduction system.

The technology provides these key benefits:

• reduced water consumption – reduced operating costs,

• reduced effluent – reduced chemical costs and water in waste water treatment plants,

• reduction in sludge – reduced disposal costs, and

• reduction consumption of plating chemicals and additives – reduced operating costs.

The system is the brainchild of Hans Henig who has patents granted in many countries and is licensed by PAL. Like all successful inventions, its concept is simple yet effective as the photograph and brief description of the process show(Plate 1).

 Plate 1 PAL barrel drag out reduction system

• The barrel and its load is lifted by the transporter into the “blow down” chamber above the process tank.

• A mechanical shroud is activated and moves into place, enclosing the barrel and sealing the “blow down” chamber to make it air tight.

• A low pressure fan blower is activated and air is forced through the barrel so that the drag out in the barrel is forced out and returns to the process tank.

• Water is then introduced into the air stream to produce a very fine spray,further improving the efficiency of the solution drag out recovery.

• The transporter moves to the next position and the shroud is opened allowing the barrel to be lowered into the next process stage.

To demonstrate the success of the system, the data shown in Table I was captured from an operational installation.

Table I

For further information, contact your local PAL representative or e-mail Scott Chan scottchan@palhk.com at PAL in Hong Kong.