Technical Information

Vapor degreasing is a process used to thoroughly clean a variety of materials without the use of water. Airless  vacuum vapor degreasing is a unique process, where the solvent is never mixed with air, which results in the lowest emissions technically possible.

Parts to be cleaned are placed into a chamber, and the door is closed and sealed. The air within the chamber is evacuated to a pressure of <1 torr (1 torr = 1mm Hg). Solvent is introduced into the chamber in various forms, depending on the system and process configuration, which include vapor, spray, and liquid immersion. While under vacuum, no air remains as a barrier between substrate & solvent, allowing for very thorough penetration the solvent, resulting in thorough cleaning.

After the solvent has been in contact with the parts, during the final phase of the cleaning cycle the chamber is evacuated once again to a pressure of <1 torr. Under vacuum, the boiling point of the solvent is depressed, and the vapor pressure increased, and the solvent evaporates very readily, and is recovered for distillation and reuse. After the parts are dry and the solvent is recovered, fresh air is pumped into the cleaning chamber, so that when the operator opens the door, the chamber is filled with the same air they are breathing in the environment.

The experience of using an Airless Vacuum Vapor Degreaser is very operator friendly. The operator places a basket of dirty parts within the cleaning chamber and initiates the cleaning cycle. In smaller Airless degreasers, the chamber door may be manually actuated, but in most cases the door opens & closes automatically. A pre-programmed cleaning recipe is selected, and the cycle proceeds. When the cycle is completed, the chamber door opens, and the basket of cleaned parts is removed.

To enhance the Airless vapor degreasing process, solvent may be sprayed onto parts within the vacuum chamber, or the chamber may be filled with liquid solvent and circulated or ultrasonically cavitated. Ultrasonics work more effectively in an Airless vacuum degreaser than any any other ultrasonic process because of the thorough degassing of the solvent which occurs under vacuum.

This thorough degassing of solvent provides more efficient transmission of ultrasonic energy, and results in cleaner parts. Rotation or tilting may be used to enhance flushing & drainage within a cleaning cycle. Filtration may be used to remove particulate from the process. Coupling mechanisms may be used to flush liquid solvent through tubing or assemblies of complex geometry. Superheated vapor may be used to enhance dying.

The Baron Blakeslee Airless vacuum vapor degreasing systems are unique for their capability, process flexibility, engineering, manufacturing quality, and emissions elimination. The major advantages of this technology are the environmental regulatory compliance achieved, the process improvements implemented through reductions in solvent and energy usage, and the dramatic cost reductions achieved from direct labor and maintenance cost.

Airless equipment will also increase production rates and produce better quality parts. Probably, the most important benefit of a Baron Blakeslee Airless  Vacuum Vapor Degreaser is the guarantee of 100% drying. Typically, enclosed degreasers use hot air drying, which is slow, expensive, and ineffective. Technically, drying with hot air can be viewed as the reverse of vapor condensing in an air environment. The difference is that now the air concentration is very high as compared to the solvent vapors. Air drying depends on the hot air reaching the liquid solvent on the part and convecting the solvent vapors away from the surface.

Because of part size, configuration, or material, having sufficiently hot air reach the surface is not always possible and often liquid remains on the part resulting in dragout from the vessel. In the Baron Blakeslee Airless vacuum vapor degreaser, drying is fast and 100% effective even in blind holes and crevices. The principle is simple: halogenated degreasing solvents cannot exist in the liquid state when the pressure of the chamber is reduced to below 5 torr. During Airless drying and recovery cycles, the pressure in the chamber is far below 5 torr.

Yes, but certain solvent processes are subject to regulation by the government or local air quality authorities. For instance, chlorinated solvents are subject to the US EPA NESHAP regulations. Or, if the solvent being used contains VOCs (Volatile Organic Chemicals), an air permit may be required to operate a vapor degreaser.

Baron Blakeslee Airless vacuum vapor degreasing technology has been proven in practice and recognized by federal, state and local air regulatory offices as LAER/BACT for California and the United States. Our Airless equipment exceeds all EPA and OSHA regulations for a safe environment.

Yes, the Baron Blakeslee Serec Airless technology and patented degreasing systems (manufactured under U.S. Patents No. 5,240,507; No. 5,702,535; No. 5,630,434; No. 5,538,025; No. 5,469,876; No. 5,051,135; No. 5,193,560; No. 08/965,357)

Yes, absolutely, when the machine is correctly maintained, and the process properly operated. Airless vacuum vapor degreasing achieves the lowest solvent emissions, and lowest operator exposure levels technically possible. Baron Blakeslee Airless vacuum vapor degreasers provide the lowest environmental impact and operator exposure of any cleaning equipment available.

There are many options available depending on local regulations, company environmental, health & safety policies, etc. Solvents are based on non-flammable, halogenated hydrocarbon chemistries, often blended with alcohols or other organic chemicals. Airless Vacuum Vapor Degreaser designs are also available for use with flammable solvents like acetone or isopropyl alcohol, as well as combustible solvents like aliphatic hydrocarbons and modified alcohols.

Baron Blakeslee is an excellent choice for a degreaser vendor because we have been in business nearly 100 years and specialize in vapor degreasing equipment. Baron Blakeslee designs & builds all our own equipment, in our own factory in the USA. Many manufacturers do not even build their own equipment, instead using subcontractors, often selected based on lowest cost provider.

Baron Blakeslee provides repair & refurbishing services for degreasers manufactured by Baron Blakeslee.

The operation of an Airless Vacuum Vapor Degreaser is considerably more simple than other types of industrial cleaning processes. Basically, parts or baskets are placed directly into the cleaning chamber, the door is closed, and a pre-programmed cleaning recipe is selected, and when the cycle is completed, the operator removes the cleaned parts.

Airless vacuum vapor degreasing systems provide continuous distillation of solvent via several process modes. Automatic distillation cycles may occur during a cleaning cycle when the transfer pumps are available. Operator selected distillation cycles may also be initiated, which will distill the entire volume of solvent in the machine. The selected distillation cycles are a function of throughput and soil loading and are unique to each application.

If a chlorinated solvent is being used, these materials are HAPs, (Hazardous Air Pollutants). In addition to other compliance and reporting requirements, the degreaser being used must be NESHAP compliant. The easiest path to compliance is to use a degreaser designed to be NESHAP compliant. All Baron Blakeslee Airless vacuum vapor degreasers are NESHAP compliant. Our vapor degreasing systems incorporate appropriate control combinations as defined by NESHAP.

The answer is "probably". There is one set of rules to which ALL vapor degreasers users must comply and those are NESHAP, which applies to chlorinated solvents only, but NESHAP dictates best design & work practices that translate to the conservation of any solvent. (Baron Blakeslee Airless vacuum vapor degreasers, by design, are fully NESHAP compliant.) So, in that regard the Federal US EPA does have standards that govern the use of vapor degreasing equipment.

However, states and even localities are free to draft their own regulations, as long as those regulations are more stringent than those of the US EPA. Typically, the state equivalent of the EPA is responsible for drafting and enforcing those regulations. It is advisable to check with the “most local” air quality authority in your area to see if a permit is required to operate a degreaser. This compliance is by no means unique to vapor degreasing equipment. If someone is operating an aqueous cleaning system, for example, they may need the appropriate permits in place to discharge water to the public sewer, or to exhaust vapor into the air.

Baron Blakeslee are indeed the industry experts on vapor degreasing and cleaning operations in general. However, we cannot become the experts on regulatory compliance concerning permitting vapor degreasers or other types of cleaning equipment. There are 50 states in the USA, and they each have their own regulations. Each state may have myriad localities that have their own unique regulations. Each state and locality are free to draft and change their regulations as they see fit.

On that basis it is impractical, and frankly, impossible for Baron Blakeslee to be aware of the latest vapor degreasing compliance regulations anywhere one of our systems may be used. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the end user to research the unique aspects of compliance they must address to operate any piece of cleaning equipment.  Baron Blakeslee will gladly assist in sharing any information about our equipment necessary to complete a permit application, etc.

There are many reputable approved waste haulers who will accept waste from vapor degreasers. it is important to select a responsible approved waste hauler.