Cleaning and maintenance of stainless steel tanks is very important. Here are some specific cleaning and maintenance methods and precautions:
### Cleaning methods
- **Manual cleaning method**: Suitable for small tanks or tanks with simpler structures. Cleaning personnel need to wear protective equipment to enter the tank and use brushes, scrapers and other tools to remove dirt attached to the tank. This method is labor-intensive, inefficient, and has certain safety risks.
- **Chemical cleaning method**: Inject the selected chemical cleaning agent into the stainless steel tank, let the cleaning agent fully soak and react with the dirt in the tank, then discharge the waste liquid and rinse with water. Chemical cleaning can effectively remove various stubborn dirt, but it is necessary to pay attention to choosing the appropriate cleaning agent to avoid damage to the stainless steel material.
- **High-pressure water jet cleaning method**: Use the high-pressure water flow impact force generated by the high-pressure water pump to clean the inner wall of the tank. High-pressure water jet can peel off most of the dirt with strong adhesion. It is easy to operate and has a good cleaning effect, but it may take multiple rinses to achieve the desired effect.
- **Steam cleaning method**: Use the heat energy generated when high-temperature steam contacts the inner wall of the tank to soften the dirt, and steam can also play a role in disinfection and sterilization. However, it has high requirements for temperature control, and improper operation may lead to safety accidents.
- **Mechanical cleaning method**: Install a rotary or reciprocating cleaning mechanism inside the tank, and run the cleaning mechanism to fully clean the inner wall of the tank. This method has a complex structure and high cost, and is suitable for the automatic cleaning of large tanks.
- **Acid pickling passivation method**: Acid pickling passivation is a surface treatment method that removes oxides and dirt on the surface of the tank through chemical reactions, so that the surface of the stainless steel tank exposes a fresh substrate, and then passivates it to form a dense oxide film on the fresh surface, thereby protecting the tank and improving its corrosion resistance.
### Maintenance tips
- **Regular cleaning**: After use, perform a comprehensive cleaning, drain the remaining water in the tank and pipes, and keep the tank dry.
- **Lubrication maintenance**: Periodically add lubricating oil to stainless steel tank parts to extend their service life and improve their efficiency.
- **Check for leaks**: Check the stainless steel tank body and pipes regularly for leaks and repair them in time.
- **Clean the environment**: Clean the sewage and garbage in the storage place at any time, and dispose of the garbage generated during use in a timely and rapid manner.
- **Maintenance when not in use**: If the stainless steel tank is not in use temporarily, it should be fully cleaned and sterilized before storage.
- **Check the anti-corrosion layer**: Check the anti-corrosion layer regularly to see if it is intact. If it is damaged, it should be repaired in time.
- **Keep ventilation**: Keep ventilation and air circulation inside the tank to prevent the tank from being affected by excessive or low oxygen concentration.
- **Avoid mechanical damage**: Avoid mechanical damage such as impact and friction on the tank to avoid affecting the service life of the tank.
- **Check the sealing performance**: Check the sealing performance of the tank regularly, and repair it in time if leakage is found. At the same time, various accessories of the tank, such as level gauges, pressure gauges, thermometers, safety valves, etc., should also be checked to ensure their normal operation.
### Notes
- **Cleaning agent selection**: Do not use acidic cleaning agents, otherwise they will corrode the inner wall of the stainless steel tank and cause rust spots on the inner wall. For particularly stubborn dirt or situations that require deep cleaning, you can consider using alkaline cleaning agents for cyclic cleaning.
- **Safety protection**: During the cleaning process, you should wear protective gloves to avoid direct contact of the cleaning agent with the skin.
- **Drying and disinfection**: After cleaning, wipe the tank dry with a clean cloth, or place it in a well-ventilated place to dry naturally. Disinfect the tank with alcohol or disinfectant to kill potential bacteria.