Test bench
In
the context of studies on the impact and efficiency of
washing techniques, there currently exist, to the best
of our knowledge, no specialised tools designed to accurately
reproduce the different physical parameters which can
be used as an efficiency test protocol for washing agents
and their application systems. This goes for a whole variety
of techniques including sand blasting, high pressure and
cryogenics.
For this purpose, Cedre acquired an automated, programmable
tool to prevent errors induced by human intervention (implementation
distances and rates). One of the main characteristics
of this equipment is its capacity to accurately reproduce
a complete test protocol cycle. When the Erika spill occurred,
numerous requests were made to Cedre to validate or compare
techniques and cleaning agents applied on various natural
or artificial surfaces. The absence of a sufficiently
reliable and reasonable sized tool made this task particularly
laborious and costly in terms of human resources, and
did not result in perfectly reliable and reproducible
results.
Characteristics
This
tool is mobile, safe and resistant to chemicals as well
as mechanical attack caused by washing techniques. It
is comprised of a metal chamber, which is large enough
to accommodate, on the inner back wall, a plate of various
materials, 500 mm x 500 mm in size or a series of 9 plates
100 mm x 100 mm each, positioned vertically, facing the
operator. These samples are exposed to the washing system
being tested, which regularly passes over the plates.
The test bench
Usage
To ensure regular cycles using different washing protocols
(sand blasting, pressurised water, blasting with salt
crystals, ice or solvent), the movement of the carriage
supporting the source of projection is ensured by an entirely
automated system made up of two electric jacks, one for
horizontal movement and the other vertical movement.
Once the source has been installed on the carriage (pressure
washer, sand blaster etc.), the two cycles for cleaning
samples positioned within the unit can either be by horizontal
sweeping with vertical adjustment or vertical sweeping
with horizontal adjustment. The sweeping speed is constant,
whereas the adjustment periods can be altered.