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4. Gamajet V Questions 5. Gamajet VI Questions 6. Gamajet E-Z 7 / VII Questions Steam Jet Pumps1. General Questions
If you have a question regarding the performance or operation of any of our products, please feel free to contact us or Gamajet Tank Cleaners General QuestionsHow does a Gamajet tank cleaner work? As the wash fluid enters our machines, it initially passes through a stationary component called the stator which directs the water over the veins of a rotating component, the rotor. The rotor, which is connected to an input shaft, drives a gear train, which ultimately causes the Tee and Nozzle Housings (Click Here for an example) to rotate. The Tee Housing, the piece in the shape of a pipe tee, revolves around the axis of the inlet pipe, while the Nozzle Housing, the piece the nozzles screw into, rotates about the Tee Housing. It is the motion (or more accurately, the relationship of the motion between the two parts) of the Nozzle and Tee Housing which, over time, develop a spherical pattern. The pictures shown below show how the spray pattern builds up in increasing density. One full wash cycle is 60 revolutions of either the Nozzle Housing or Tee Housing. The spray pattern repeats itself after each full cycle. Two Nozzle Spray Pattern for IV
Three Nozzle Spray Pattern for IV
I am not sure what my operating conditions are, why is that important? The Gamajet Tank Cleaning Machines are wash-fluid driven devices. The sizing and number of the nozzles, the stator (and where appropriate the rotor), and the gear ratio are all chosen based on the operating conditions at the Gamajet of each application. It is, therefore, very important to know at what pressure and flow rate you plan operate. Please note, you must take the line and elevation loses into account when sizing a machine, if you require assistance, please contact Gamajet. Which is better, a 2 or 3 nozzle machine? Each configuration has its advantages. The two nozzle machine, which is more common, will generate more impact force than a three nozzle machine operating at the same pressure and nozzle size. For example, a two nozzle machine requiring 100 PSI can pass 100 GPM at a given nozzle size. A three nozzle machine operating at 100 PSI with the same size nozzles may pass 130 GPM. Therefore, instead of getting 50 GPM per nozzle, as would be the case with the two nozzle machine, you will only get 43 GPM. This, translates into a lower exit velocity, which in turn means lower impact force. The three nozzle machine does have a 33% tighter pattern than the two nozzle. That may sound like a lot, but for most applications, the two nozzle's pattern is more than enough. There are, however, applications where distance combined with a stubborn dirt require the tighter pattern of a three nozzle machine. A three nozzle machine can rinse a vessel in 1/3 of a full cycle, while a two nozzle machine requires 1/2 a full cycle. Therefore, in applications requiring a very quick rinse, the three nozzle machine has the edge. How important is it to maintain the seals and O-rings of my machine? Very important. If a machine does not have a regular PM program the seals and o-rings, which are wear parts, will ultimately fail and, therefore, cause accelerated wear on the normally non-wear parts. First, they help control the speed of the machine. The moving parts of the Gamajet use the resistance of the seals to prevent over-speeding. Also, a leaking machine will have a higher flow rate at a given pressure than a tight one. This greater flow rate translates into a faster machine, and a faster machine translates into accelerated wear on the non-wear parts. The seals and O-rings prevent the machine from wasting wash water. They ensure that all of the water is used to clean your vessel by forcing it to exit from the nozzles. How do you size a Gamajet to work with an existing pump? To answer this question, one must first determine what type of pump they are using. There are two main families of pumps that work with Gamajet Tank Cleaning machines. The first is a centrifugal or impeller style of pump, the second is a positive displacement pump. A centrifugal pump moves the wash water with the veins of a rotating impeller. By its nature, as the back pressure in a system builds the pump begins to "slip", i.e. the flow rate drops as the resistance increases. This style of pump can be "dead headed" (zero flow rate) for short periods of time with out damage or danger to a properly configured system. A Gamajet is typically sized to work close to the centrifugal pump's best efficiency point. This type pump is commonly used in Gamajet IV and some Gamajet V applications. A positive displacement, PD, pump moves the wash water by a more mechanical and constant means (piston, plunger, mechanical diaphragm, etc.). This style of pump is usually rated for a certain maximum flow rate from which it will not vary (but it can be decreased by running the pump slower), and a maximum pressure rating. Do not confuse this maximum rating with the actual operating pressure of the pump. The actual operating pressure is dictated by the restrictions the water must overcome (plumbing, elevation, and Gamajet) at the set flow rate. Pumps of this style have almost no slip and, therefore, cannot be "dead headed". For obvious safety reasons, a bypass or pressure relief valve must be used on the outlet of constant volume pumps. One has more freedom when sizing a Gamajet for use with a PD pump because there isn't a best efficiency point. Using the set flow rate as a guide, Gamajets are usually sized to offer the appropriate operating pressure based on factors such as size of the vessel, stubbornness of the dirt, maximum pressure ratings of the pump and supply plumbing, etc. This type of pump is commonly used in Gamajet E-Z 7 and some Gamajet V and 6 applications. If you have any questions about sizing a pump, please contact us. What effect do internal vessel obstructions have? Tanks containing obstructions (baffles, mixing blades, etc.) can have a "shadow" problem. The agitation of the Gamajet is usually enough to clean around small obstacles, however, for the vessels containing large objects or in applications where high levels of cleanliness are necessary, multiple insertion points or machines are necessary. As the Gamajet rotates inside of a vessel the spray pattern is slowly indexing over the interior surface. When this spray pattern begins to repeat itself, the unit is said to have completed one full cycle. For most machines, this occurs when the Nozzle or Tee Housing has rotated 60 times. The Gamajet IX requires only 50 rotations. How do I determine a Gamajets full cycle time? Using a fixed point inside of a vessel as a reference, time how long it takes the same nozzle to pass back over that fixed point in vessel. (This will not be the exact same spot because the spray pattern is indexing.) For most machines, this timed value in seconds corresponds to the full cycle time in minutes. Multiple this number by 5/6 to calculate the full cycle time (in minutes) for the Gamajet IX. Is it always necessary to run a full cycle to clean my vessel? No, it is not. If the soil inside of the vessel is light enough it is entirely possible to use less than a full cycle to clean a vessel. In fact, the spray pattern for a 2 and 3 nozzle machine completes the first pass (not to be confused with cycle) inside of the vessel in 1/2 or 1/3 of a full cycle, respectively. This initial pass is relatively loose in coverage, and in subsequent passes the spray pattern coverage tightens. I can't rotate the Tee Housing by hand, is this normal? Yes, it is. Because of the internal gearing the Tee Housing cannot be rotated with normal hand strength. Forcing the Housing to rotate will damage internal components. Back to TopGamajet IV QuestionsWhat is the minimum full cycle time of the Gamajet IV? The recommended minimum full cycle times for a IV with a 273:1 and 655:1 gear ratio are six and sixteen minutes, respectively. Back to TopGamajet 8 QuestionsWhat is the minimum full cycle time of the Gamajet 8? The recommended minimum full cycle times for an 8 is eight minutes. Back to TopGamajet V QuestionsWhat is the minimum full cycle time of the Gamajet V? The recommended minimum full cycle time of a V is eight minutes. Can the Gamajet V pass through a 3" tube? As it is designed, a Gamajet V needs an opening with a minimum of 3" inside diameter. If your vessel has 3" tubing openings, the Gamajet VI is a better choice. Back to TopGamajet VI QuestionsWhat is the minimum full cycle time of the Gamajet VI? The recommended minimum full cycle time for a VI is ten minutes. Back to TopGamajet E-Z 7 / VII QuestionsWhat is the minimum full cycle time of the Gamajet E-Z 7 / VII? The recommended minimum full cycle time for a E-Z 7 / VII is three and one-half minutes. Back to TopGamajet Steam Jet Pumps General QuestionsDoes the unit generate its own steam? No, the unit does need a separate boiler to supply steam. Does the unit have any moving parts? No, there are no moving parts to wear out. What is the maximum allowable temperature of the inlet water? In order for the inlet steam to condense, the water temperature must be kept below 80° F. What is the maximum allowable difference between the water and steam pressure? The inlet steam pressure can be no higher than 100 PSI more than the inlet water pressure. Back to Top |
