Cleaning trucks and preventing contamination

A new fertiliser plant in Western Australia was in need of an effective solution to clean the wheels and chassis of its trucks and other vehicles — an essential step in preventing contamination of surrounding areas. The plant chose engineering consultants Tecpro to design and supply a comprehensive washing system.

The project came with a few key challenges:

An obvious consideration was preventing contamination, ie, ensuring no residue on trucks and other vehicles from the fertiliser plant left the site.

Secondly, the system needed to be efficient, handling a high volume of trucks with minimal downtime and minimal water usage. Thirdly, it had to incorporate automation; cutting down on manual intervention to ensure consistent cleaning, reduce time per clean and reduce labour costs.

Tecpro devised a tailored solution using its Italian-made washing technology, including rotating nozzles and a high-pressure automated pump skid.

Design and construction

The system was designed as a fixed-location, drive-through wash to accommodate different vehicle types and sizes. Construction drawings were developed to help the construction company integrate the system seamlessly into the plant’s new infrastructure.

Four high-pressure rotating wash heads were installed, each capable of delivering powerful jets to remove stubborn dirt and residues from the wheels and undercarriage. A robust 150 L/min, 110 bar high-pressure pump set was also selected to carry out thorough cleaning with each cycle. The pumps are capable of handling large trucks with minimal water wastage.

Automation was incorporated into the system through the use of ultrasonic sensors, which are designed to detect the presence of vehicles. These sensors activated the pump when a vehicle approached and shut it off once the vehicle passed through, supporting efficient water and energy use.

The system additionally featured water management options for both disposable and recycled water, aligning with environmental and operational needs. This flexibility allowed the plant to choose the most sustainable and cost-effective water management approach.

Mission accomplished

Tecpro’s wheel and chassis washing system was reportedly a comprehensive success, resulting in: environmental compliance, with the plant significantly reducing the risk of contaminating surrounding areas; operational efficiency, thanks to the automated system; and enhanced safety and cleanliness, benefiting both the plant and the community.

Image courtesy of Tecpro.