Page 62 - Fall 2023 EDM Today

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TECHTIPS

The logical and ecological solution to this problem is to

TANK DRAININGTANK DRAINING
recycle, or regenerate exhausted deionizing resin. Resin
regeneration, if it is done in accordance with all EPA
Before returning your exhausted resin bottle for regener-
regulations, has a minimal effect upon the environment.
ation, it is important to drain it for two reasons:
Draining the tank removes the possibility of water
•
costly than purchasing virgin resin.
leaking from the tank during shipping which can re-
sult in environmental issues if it leaks while in transit In addition, regenerating deionizing resin is much less
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with a common carrier.

RESIN TIPS TIPS
RESIN
Draining the tank prevents possible freezing damage
•
Prior to closing this admittedly lengthy treatise,
should the transit to the regenerator subject the tank
let me leave you with a few tips that may save you
to subfreezing temperatures during shipping in the
time and money:
winter months.
•
Regularly clean the conductivity probe on your
I have designed a tank dewatering device that utilizes
water-based EDM machines. The best resin system
compressed air to evacuate the tank, as shown in Figure 7.
bad information from its sensor.
Purchase a high quality conductivity meter to
• is useless if the conductivity control system receives
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regularly provide an independent check on your
machine’s conductivity. Visit the magazine website
and go to Toolbox Treasures archive for a recom-
mendation. Calibrate that meter regularly with
calibrating fl uid traceable to NIST.
Don’t scrimp on your fi lters. A blown fi lter or high
•
micron rating fi lter turns your resin system into an
expensive fi lter.
Consider utilizing a resin system pre-fi lter if
•
your machine’s fi ltration system rating exceeds
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3-5 microns.
Figure 7
•
Don’t let cleaning chemicals or their residue get into
your dielectric system. They will drastically shorten
Note that this design includes a pressure relief valve that
resin life and possibly destroy the resin.
prevents the inadvertent over-pressurization that could
cause catastrophic tank failure.
Important Note: Do not pour the water drained from an
CONCLUSIONNCLUSION
CO
exhausted resin tank either down the drain or onto the
ground. The only environmentally safe ways to dispose
of it are either to pour it into your machine’s dirty tank or
“out of sight, out of mind” things. A proper understand-
into a waste water evaporator. The resin system of a water-based EDM is one of those
ing of the basics of the ion exchange process and the
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potential environmental liabilities will help maintain EDM
consistency and keep you on the right side of the law.
ENVIRO
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITYNMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

Roger Kern | Principal Consultant

Virgin (new) deionizing resin is essentially a neutral and

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harmless material. However, exhausted deionizing resin
that is loaded with contaminants removed from the wa-
ter in your machine cannot be safely or legally disposed
in the trash. Please remember this most important point:
You are ultimately responsible for the proper disposal
of your resin or its treatment by-products forever. Your
liability is unlimited by either dollar amount or time, even
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if it is your vendor that violates the law.
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