AZO, Osterburken, Germany, has introduced an ingenious system for internal dry cleaning of IBCs (intermediate bulk containers) which have become contaminated with product residue and dust. Thanks to the umbrella-type mechanism, it is also possible to clean vessels with small inlet apertures, as the cleaning unit only unfolds once it is inside the container. The design can thus be adapted to virtually any geometric shape of rotationally symmetrical hoppers.

 

Since the cleaning process does not employ water there is no need for time-consuming drying processes. A further advantage of dry cleaning is that no wastewater is produced which would then have to be treated at great expense. The cleaning unit consists of two arms where the cleaning jets are attached. These arms are folded together tightly as the cleaning unit is inserted into the container and they do not open out until fully inserted. Once unfolded, the unit is rotated during the cleaning cycle via a pneumatic rotary drive. This enables it to reach all points on the inside of the container and to purge them with compressed air. www.azo.com 

 

 

AZO system for internal dry cleaning of IBCs and similar storage vessels