Apparatus and method for re-circulating wash water used in manufacturing glass fiber products

• Main Authors: CHEN LIANG, SHALLENBERGER DAVID L, COOPER WILLIAM, BURN TERRY
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 02.09.2014
• Subjects: ADHESIVE PROCESSES NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; ADHESIVES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; CHEMISTRY; COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES ORLACQUERS; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; DYES; FILLING PASTES; INKS; METALLURGY; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; NON-MECHANICAL ASPECTS OF ADHESIVE PROCESSES IN GENERAL; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PAINTS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; POLISHES; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; USE OF MATERIALS AS ADHESIVES; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR; WOODSTAINS

A method of re-circulating washwater used to clean production components for the manufacture of fibrous insulation, e.g. fiberglass is disclosed. The method includes providing a bulk washwater recovery loop to re-circulate washwater used to clean the downstream air components, as well as a separate hoodwall washwater recovery loop to re-circulate hoodwall washwater. Re-circulated hoodwall washwater may be used to clean the forming hood components and for preparation of binder dispersions. In the latter case, the pH of the hoodwall washwater is measured and the binder dispersion may be prepared with 100% hoodwall washwater, 100% makeup water, or a blend of each depending on and in response to the pH measurement.