LIQUID/SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE DRY CLEANING SYSTEM

摘要

A dry cleaning system particularly suited for employing supercritical CO2 as the cleaning fluid consisting of a sealable cleaning vessel (10) containing a rotatable drum (110) adapted for holding soiled substrate, a cleaning fluid storage vessel (12), and a gas vaporizer vessel (11) for recycling used cleaning fluid is provided. The drum (110) is magnetically coupled to a motor (120) so that it can be rotated during the cleaning process. The system is adapted for automation which permits increased energy efficiency as the heating and cooling effect associated with CO2 gas condensation and expansion can be channeled to heat and cool various parts of the system.