If the batch cleaner is truly closed loop, then 100% of all of the process fluid (water) is captured, filtered (particulate, carbon, resin) and reused. This answer is based on a traditional closed-loop batch cleaning system with an integrated water recycler running without a defluxing chemical.
In this configuration, all process water is recycled. Cost of any cleaning system is based on the following criteria:
Cost of machine Cost of electricity Assemblies per load (based on size and equipment’s cleaning performance) Cycle time Filter (carbon and resin) life Filter (carbon and resin) replacement cost
I do not know your assembly’s size but I will base an estimate on an average size of 4”x9”. I will also base the machine’s specifications on one that we build (others may be different). I will also make the assumption that the closed-loop recycler is integrated into the cleaning system. Finally, I will assume that no defluxing chemical will be used.
Assemblies per load: 52 Loads per hour (clean, cleanliness test, dry): 3 Assemblies cleaned per hour: 156 Number of production hours required to clean 200 assemblies: 1.3 hours Energy required to run machine for 1.3 hours: $1.30 (@ $0.12 per kW/hr) Total annual Energy (assuming no extra time running): $15.60 Estimated annual filter cost: $495.00 Total annual operational costs: $510.60 Cost per assembly: $0.22
Obviously, there are more costs including labor, depreciation, etc, and you will most likely not clean all assemblies at one time. In all likelihood, you will clean only a few at one time, causing you to operate the machine with smaller loads, all increasing the overall operational costs. The point of this exercise is to illustrate the individual process cost centers. I hope this helps!
Mike Konrad
Aqueous Technologies
konrad@aqueoustech.com
www.aqueoustech.com
reply »