After Petroferm tested the cleaning process on sample parts, Cardiac Control Systems began gathering the extensive data necessary to validate the process and confirm its effectiveness. How the Process Works Many of Cardiac Control Systems' parts cleaned in the vapor degreaser are tiny metal components. When the HFE method is used, parts are placed in a vapor zone instead of being immersed in a fluid, so the parts can be placed in open trays for the 1-minute cleaning cycle. After the parts are placed into the system for cleaning, vapor condenses on them. The condensate drains away contaminants and then evaporates and condenses on cleaning coils as the cleaned parts are withdrawn.
Contaminant residue is filtered out of the fluid, which continuously recycles from liquid to vapor.
A spray wand inside the cleaning unit can be used on surfaces that require slightly more aggressive cleaning actions. Benefits of HFE Cleaning Cardiac Control Systems found that the properties of the HFE fluid offered a number of improvements over CFCs. The higher temperature reduces emissive losses and aids in solvent action. The density of the HFE fluid, combined with its low viscosity and surface tension, allows it to penetrate and clean components with complex surface features. The low surface tension of the fluid allows for fast wetting of low-energy substrates, while low viscosity aids in the penetration of tight and complex geometries.