What is degassing in ultrasonic cleaning?

Degassing is a process which removes gases that have dissolved in the liquid cleaning solutions used in ultrasonic equipment. Dissolved gases, such as oxygen, can impact the performance of cleaning tanks, as they absorb cavitation energy, which can reduce effectiveness. Degassing ensures that ultrasonic cleaners work efficiently from the beginning of the cleaning cycle.

What is ultrasonic cleaning used for?

Many industrial firms and health providers use ultrasonic cleaning to ensure their equipment is correctly functioning and is free from dirt and debris. A large ultrasonic cleaner, like the ones provided by specialists such as https://www.hilsonic.co.uk, is effective at removing contaminants without being abrasive.

In a medical setting, such as a dental surgery, many instruments are air retentive, which means this has to be removed before sterilisation.

Degassing options

Running the ultrasonics empty, without including the parts which need cleaning, can speed up the degassing process. The degassing of the cleaning solution only needs to be done when it is first dispensed from a pressurised supply.

Leaving a solution to sit for a few hours means any gas will be dispersed. An example of this is when you leave a glass of water out for a long time and then drink it, as it often tastes different to fresh out of the tap.

Some ultrasonic cleaning systems use fast degassing, which happens at the beginning of the cleaning cycle and allows degassing of the solution in just a few seconds.

During degassing, fine bubbles appear which rise up to the surface, and there may also be a high-pitched sound.

Gabriel Hiott

Gabriel Hiott