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How to keep ATEX zones of ships clean
Graco’s ATEX-approved air-operated pressure washer, Hydra-Clean, is a quick, easy and efficient method to clean decks and surfaces, and remove barnacles and marine growth.
Louis de Hillerin, Manager Marine Division, explains why you should consider the Hydra-Clean for on-board cleaning.
Why has Graco developed Hydra-Clean?
To meet a clear market demand. Cargo tank cleaning is an essential operation before a vessel takes on new cargo. Hulls, decks, deck equipment and vessel structures also need to be constantly kept clean. Hydra-Clean is a quick, easy and efficient method to clean decks and surfaces contaminated with oil, and for removing barnacles and marine growth.
What types of vessel can use Hydra-Clean?
In principle, any vessel that has an air compressor can use Graco’s Hydra-Clean air-operated pressure washer. However, our specific focus is on vessels with an ATEX zone as Hydra-Clean is ATEX-approved and cleans those vessels that other air-operated pressure washers can’t! So it’s ideal for oil tankers, LNG tankers, oil drilling ships, and gas drilling ships. In addition, most naval ships use nuclear technology and therefore need ATEX-approved products. As it’s ATEX-approved, Hydra-Clean eliminates the risk from sparking, making it ideal for use in explosion sensitive environments, such as a ship’s hold if it is carrying chemicals, oil or other highly explosive materials.
Do you see the demand for ATEX-approved equipment increasing?
Definitely. Since 2019, new international regulations limit the emission of sulfide particles from the propulsion systems of vessels. Vessels powered by fuel oil (heavy fuel) or liquid natural gas are now considered to be vessels with ATEX zones, so an ATEX-approved pressure-washer like Hydra-Clean is an essential part of on-board equipment.
What are the main applications for a high-pressure washer such as Hydra-Clean?
On an oil tanker or LNG tanker a product like Hydra-Clean is essential to clean rails and decks with salted or non-salted water, and to clean the engine room and even the engine itself. It is also perfect for bilge cleaning.
On an oil or gas drilling ship, an important application is the drilling operation, as very viscous sludges and sediments are difficult to remove around the extraction point on the drilling platform. In addition, some of the drilling operations need constant water cleaning on the drilling shaft to see what’s happening with the driller. Other application areas include rails, pipes, deck and engine cleaning. An additional application on a gas drilling ship (FSU) is for an ATEX-approved washer to clean and purify the on-board gas treatment factory and then condense the extracted gas, which all take place in ATEX Zone 0.
Also, on tankers it’s necessary to clean tanks, decks and bilges. In fact, tankers require special maintenance, which is carried out regularly after each transport of liquid, in this case oil, fuel and derivatives. Oil and fuel are recognized as particularly toxic dangerous substances. Therefore, it is advisable to take far-reaching precautions regarding the cleaning of tanks by using specific products and adapted methods. First of all, before starting any cleaning or maintenance operation, it is necessary to carry out degassing. Only then can other steps be carried out such as mastering the pumping system, waste treatment, and cleaning high-pressure tanks.
An extra word on cleaning high-pressure tanks that can contain crude oil that is toxic to both humans and the environment. For this operation the ATEX-approved Hydra-Clean pneumatic cleaner really comes into its own. It provides a pressurized water jet from 70 to 300 bar. The most common Hydra-Clean model used for cleaning high-pressure tanks is the 30:1 cart-mounted unit.
What are the other key benefits of Hydra-Clean?
Hydra-Clean is designed to be used with cold or hot water up to 93°C containing chemicals (if needed), and supports multiple guns. The hydraulic model can be powered by existing hydraulic PTO on-board equipment, and is particularly useful in situations where compressed air sources are not available. In addition, with Hydra-Clean a vessel can save on-board drinking water as it works with sea water.
For more information on Hydra-Clean, or if you would like a product demo, contact Louis de Hillerin at louis.de.hillerin@graco.com.
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