Bulk Truck Cleaning Systems
Bulk Truck Cleaning Systems]] for every application are available in the market that range from Self Service Systems to touchless automatics to express tunnels and even Truck and RV Wash Systems. In the market bulk truck wash operators provide several types of systems at their location, such as four self serve bays and two in-bay automatics or a tunnel. The truck wash industry today offers its customer’s ample options for cleaning large commercial vehicles.
These methods range from a simple soap bucket, brush and hose to elaborate gantry systems, which are as follows:
Types
Gantry with brush and/or high-pressure System
The gantry wash system utilizes high-pressure and or brushes which are mounted to a motorized frame. The vehicle enters the wash building and when the vehicle reaches a pre-determined position it stops and remains stationary while the gantry moves back and forth the length of the vehicle to perform the different cycles of the wash. Typically, a gantry will perform two or three passes of the vehicle. One pass would apply chemical, the second pass applies the high-pressure or brushes and the third pass would apply a rinse. The advantage of this type of system is that the speed of the cleaning operation is controlled by the speed of the gantry. To complement the wash cycle many owners utilize an attendant to perform some hand detailing while the gantry is in motion.
Drive through brush and/or high-pressure System
The drive through wash system utilizes stationary equipment and a vehicle drives through the wash bay at a low speed. These systems often utilize brushes to complement the high-pressure however the rotating brushes used in any wash system should be limited to flat smooth surfaces to avoid damage to mirrors and aerials. The advantage of the drive through system is that a vehicle can be cleaned quickly to a degree of cleanliness dictated by the equipment and methods that are being used. The system uses far less moving parts than a gantry system therefore provides simplicity.
Mobile truck wash operators
Mobile truck washing consists typically of entrepreneurs with power wash equipment on their truck and they come to your site to wash your vehicles. The quality of wash varies depending on the process the operator uses. Whether they use high-pressure only or they brush the vehicle will affect the cleanliness as well as how much you pay for the service. It can be assumed that the length of time for this type of wash service mirrors that of a manual wash facility of 20-30 minutes for comparable wash quality. Although not strictly enforced in all areas of the country there are laws, which prohibit washing outdoors because the wash water can potentially, seep into the ground and contaminate the aquifer or enter the storm sewers, untreated. Mobile truck washing outfits are required to contain the wash water, collect it and dispose of it in an acceptable manner.
Manual wash facilities
Manual wash sites typically use the same tools as the mobile truck washing operators however they perform the wash service indoors. Typically a building sized to accommodate the largest vehicle to be washed is required and attendants use high-pressure wands, brushes and elbow grease to perform the cleaning. The time to wash and cost will vary on the type of truck being washed. The largest chain of commercial truck washes in the USA is Blue Beacon where the average wash time is about three tractor-trailer rigs in an hour.
Equipment
The Truck Cleaning Systems has developed a complete turnkey equipment package including a water management system and point of sale system. These products have all been implemented into the prototype facility currently operating in almost everywhere. The following provides a general summary of some key equipment features:
Low-pressure application system
This application is comprised of a standardized self-contained unit for systematically applying chemical and rinse in the vehicle wash process. A single unit can apply sprays to the front, side, and top and back of the vehicle. Each spray is independently controlled to allow the sprays to adapt to the size (height) and shapes of the vehicle to minimize the usage of water yet maximize spray coverage.
Chemical application system
This system is designed to deliver chemical to the point of use and allows for different chemicals to be used at varying concentrations. The concentrations and type of the chemicals can be custom selected during the wash transaction for every vehicle and this concentration is then set automatically for each vehicle as it enters the chemical application process. The chemical is a consumable in the wash service and this system minimizes chemical use yet maximizes cleaning ability.
High-pressure application system
his system is comprised of consistent self-contained modular units that systematically apply the high-pressure/flow of water in the wash process. The modular design allows for optimizing or easily adding hardware if needed. The spray delivery system insures that the front, side, top and back of the vehicle all receive adequate spray coverage. Any spray group can also be disabled in advance to protect sensitive areas of the vehicle. The sprays are also independently controlled to use only sprays that are required and are best suited to the size and shape of the vehicle. This minimizes over-spray and optimizes the vision of the driver who is driving the vehicle through the wash.
Trailer brush system
This system is comprised of self-standing brushing units designed to brush the sides of flat-sided trailers only. The brushes are designed to apply equal pressure on each side of the vehicle regardless of the vehicles' position in the wash bay.
Fresh water management system
This system is designed to manage all fresh water used in the wash system from the point of entry into the facility to the point of delivery. This management includes processes to soften water, maintain system water pressure, purify water and heat water. The hot water system is designed to supply different temperatures of hot water to the different applications to insure hot water is available on demand at the point of use.
Recycled water management system
This feature insures that suitable water is available for the system which delivers high-pressure/flow water. The system is designed to clean the water on a continuous basis by removing dirt and contaminants for easy disposal. This eliminates the need for large settling pits that require periodic dredging. The automatic removal of contaminants in conjunction with other processes allows us to maintain a good water quality without the need of replacing the water. The high-pressure/flow system delivers the recycled water to the point of use on demand.
Wash system controls
This system is comprised of hardware and software, which together provide the automated control of the system. The controls monitor system performance real time and provide alarm and diagnostics information to the operator for ease of identifying fault conditions and assessing system performance.