SOLVENT RESUPPLY METHOD FOR USE WITH A CARBON DIOXIDE CLEANING SYSTEM

摘要

A method (40) of replenishing liquid carbon dioxide solvent (12a) in a liquid carbon dioxide dry cleaning system (10) or other dense phase carbon dioxide cleaning system. The method uses dry-ice or solid carbon dioxide, as a replenishing stock, thus reducing transportation, storage and handling costs. The method disposes (42) solid carbon dioxide blocks in a cleaning chamber after a cleaning cycle. Liquid carbon dioxide solvent is boiled (45) and is used to melt (46) the solid carbon dioxide blocks. Liquid carbon dioxide solvent produced by melting the solid carbon dioxide blocks is pumped (47) from the cleaning chamber into a storage tank to replenish the liquid carbon dioxide solvent.