***This was an experiment--read disclaimer at bottom of post people***
Terrapon first suggested the use of Colas for cleaning our atomizers and he hit the head right on the nail to get things started. Colas have since been reported as working for some and not for others. In a search to expound Terrapons hard work, many ideas and thoughts were thrown around. The perfect cleaning solution would be one that only required placing the atomizer in that safely dissolved the residue.
Last week Stone posted that while in the business of refrigeration, there was a cleaning solution that they run through Ice Makers to clean the lines and the coils and suggested that this be investigated. As it turns out, the solvent he was referring to, phosphoric acid, is the same thing that is in Colas only much stronger and contained no sugar. While colas have a 2.5% concentrate of Phosphoric acid, this compound which is FDA food grade approved has a 75% concentrate.
This is the solvent and its write up:
Liquid Ice Machine Cleaner
Liquid Ice Machine Cleaner is formulated for 75% phosphoric acid for removing scale deposits from ice machines and coffee urns. It is a food-grade liquid acid that is fast acting yet safe to use in this equipment. It does not give off any harsh fumes or contain chlorine or chlorides that would attack stainless steel. It is available in 8 fl. oz. bottle and 1 gallon bottles.
Taking Terrapons original ideal and using the following product I dismantled a RN4072 atomizer that went cold months ago. The coil had a very heavy residue build up. I placed the solvent in a glass jar and placed the atomizer in it. After 2 hours, I took it out and inspected it only to find that at least 60% of the residual was gone from the coil and there was no residual in the solvent that I could see. I then placed it back in for another 2 hours only to find that the coil itself was now visible and over 75% of the residual was gone. Again I placed it back in and left it to the 7 hour mark to find upon inspection that 90% of the residual was gone. I then left it in overnight for a total of 14 hours to find that almost all the residual was gone. I could now see why the atomizer failed in the first place. The residual built up underneath and around the coil to to point that the residual actually lifted the coil up and forced the coil to break loose from the contact point on the left side. I could not see this before the residual was dissolved by the solvent.
Today, I took 5 "whimpy" atomizers that were from months ago and placed them in the solvent for 10 hours. I then took them out, rinsed them throughly. I then re-primed them and all 5 atomizers worked like new. I further took one of the 5 apart to inspect and it the coil was clean and all contacts were solid. I can state that this solution does in fact take Terrapons original idea of the use of phosphoric acid in a much more concentrated formula not only works, but needs no heating. It was interesting to note that there is no deposits in the solution at allhence the solution dissolved the residual.
I would note that this solvent does have, like other solvents many safety disclaimers when using it. I would further note that I was willing to try it as it is used in the industry to clean out ice makers and hence I conclude must rinse clean off otherwise it would taint the ice. This is the first very viable and hassle free solvent I have used that actually worked for me.
It clarifies that Terrapons original idea was in fact leading us on the right road. I wish to thank all members who have attempted to try different approaches to make these atomizers not "consumable parts. I also thank Stone for the idea of this product and Kinalooboo for all of his thoughts and advise with regards to this effort
. Remember that this is not the intended purpose of this product by any means and I only am reporting what worked for me. There is an inherent risk to using any solvent--so use at your own risk. Sun
DISCLAIMER: This was an experiment and I choose to use it as suggested by Stone: Remember, that these are chemicals and it is not the indented purpose of the product. So do not use if you do not want to take any risks. I am not advocating its use and only reporting my findings as Stone reccomended this product and I thought I would give it a go, I used it because I think that it rinses clean and leaves no residual and the logic being that if you are going to run it though an ice maker and then conume the ice after is is rinsed out, then it should not be leaving a residue. But that is me and my logic (a desperate soul looking for an way to save my may be soon banned atomizers from demise. we are not telling anyone else they should use it. It is dangerous and not advised and anyone that does not heed to warnings does so at their own risk. Again people, these are experiments!!.
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See
Nu-Calgon: Products: Ice Machine Filtration
