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Feed and Bleed System

I am a manager of a medium size barrel plating shop. We are looking into the use of a feed and bleed system for our Alkaline cleaners and possibly our acid activator tanks. This would minimize the volume being sent to waste-treatment each week, maintaining an equilibrium state for a longer period of time between bath dumps, and minimize adhesion problems.

With all of this said, I would appreciate any information in this area concerning dragout, concentration of feed tank solution, equations to figure the process, etc. thanks

Scott Foley
- Springfield, Missouri
2000

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Scott you may not have received a reply due to the magnitude of what you are asking for.Normally a barrel plating operation has drag out and tends to control somewhat the cleaners for contamination.

Some shops have set up feed and bleed systems utilizing overflows in these tanks, including the acid tank, titrating for a few weeks, and set up metering pumps. Or add manually. Need a lab tech to spend some time getting these numbers. You can purchase automatic titrators and feeders that are computer controlled. Suggest you contact your cleaner vendor for ideas.

Ask all your chemical vendors, that's their job to find out what you want to accomplish. Hope this helps.

Bill Hemp
tech svc. w/ chemical supplier - Grand Rapids, Michigan
2000