# Attachment for P2 Award Nomination: "National Ignition Facility Incorporates P2/E2 in Aqueous Parts Cleaning of Optics Hardware"

The LMPGC (Figure 1) provides preliminary gross cleaning for large
mechanical parts. Collection, filtration and reuse of the wash and
primary rinse water in the LMPGC limit its routine discharge to the
volume of the low-pressure, deionized secondary rinse.

![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.5in" height="4.875in"}

######### Figure 1: Critical mechanical parts used in the NIF receive a preliminary cleaning in the large mechanical parts gross cleaner designed by Sonic Systems, Inc.

After an initial gross cleaning in the LMPGC, a large mechanical part
goes to the LMPPC (Figure 2). This piece of equipment, unique because of
its size, consists of four 2700-gallon tanks. Parts held securely on
specialized metal pallets (jointly weighing up to 1500 pounds) move
through the tanks on an automated system. Operators program all
movement, speeds and process times to optimize parts cleaning. The
cleaning line is as follows:

-   Ultrasonic wash tank with an automatic feed to maintain surfactant
    concentration and pH. One hundred percent of the wash solution is
    filtered and reused. This wash bath needs changing only twice a
    year.

-   Pre-rinse spray area. Here an initial low-volume rinse removes most
    of the wash solution, preserving the cleanliness of the immersion
    rinse tank. Effluent from this process, less than 1% of the total
    volume used in a wash cycle, is the LMPPC's the only regular
    discharge during a normal wash cycle.

-   Immersion rinse tank with ultrasonics. All of the deionized rinse
    water is filtered and re-polished for reuse. Reusing the deionized
    water also saves energy by taking advantage of previously heated
    water.

-   Final spray rinse. All of this water is filtered, re-polished and
    reused.

-   Drying area. Hot, HEPA-filtered air, which dries the part, is
    filtered and re-circulated to conserve energy.

The SMPGPC, essentially a scaled-down version of the LMPPC, handles
parts weighing up to 300 kg. The SMPGPC has smaller tanks (200 gallons)
and a small-parts gross-cleaning system at the front end of the cleaning
line.

Both the SMPGPC and LMPPC are surrounded by enclosures that reduce
ambient room noise, provide a safety barrier, and help maintain the
cleanliness of the area.

Additional energy-saving features of the LMPPC and SMPGPC include:

-   Double-walled, insulated tank walls to minimize the energy needed to
    maintain bath temperature

-   Lids that cover the tanks at all times except when a pallet is being
    moved between them.

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-   Ultrasonic transducers, spray nozzles, and hot-air nozzles in the
    LMPPC are mounted on programmable trolleys, measuring approximately
    one-fifth of the tank length. Effective cleaning, rinsing and drying
    are achieved, because the programmed trolley covers only those areas
    necessary, eliminating the need for transducers and other fixtures
    to line the walls of a tank. This design allows adaptability for a
    wide variety of part sizes and configurations, and prevents energy
    waste by focusing transducer energy on areas where it is most
    needed.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="6.5in" height="4.875in"}

######### Figure 2: Depending on their size, NIF mechanical parts receive final cleaning in either the large mechanical parts precision cleaner (right) or the small mechanical parts gross and precision cleaner (left). The parts cleaners were designed by Sonic Systems, Inc.