Contactless washing technology and the use of a foam nozzle. DIY foam tablet. Replacing the mesh in the foam nozzle

The Karcher foam nozzle is included with high-pressure washers for touchless washing. various surfaces. This unit sprays soap foam onto dirt; the substances in this foam actively break down stains and make contactless washing faster and more productive.

Using Karcher foam lances

Foam nozzles are used in touchless washing. This action helps to clean surfaces without contact with them, that is, without unnecessary mechanical effects on the surface. The advantage of this type of washing is that it completely eliminates the possibility mechanical damage during the washing process. This type of washing is most widely used for cars. Contactless washing is used both in commercial enterprises and at home. Pressure washing with foam nozzles significantly extends the life of the body coating. This applies to the paintwork itself and other types of protective layers - anti-corrosion, polishing, etc.

The cleaning process and its duration depend on the level of surface contamination. If it is small, then the whole process will take 3-10 minutes, but if the pollution is global and complex, then pressure washing is used first, and then contactless. For foam nozzles, various chemical reagents are used that correspond to the type of surface being washed.

Technical characteristics of foam nozzles

The most important purpose of a foam nozzle is good foam that will linger on the surface for the period necessary to remove dirt. Low-quality or cheap nozzles do not create such foam; the product of their activity is a liquid emulsion that quickly flows down the body. As a result, there is a need to re-apply foam, which leads to overspending. detergent. To avoid this problem, it is necessary to choose Karcher foam nozzles with a pressure of at least 70 bar and the correct fitting. The fitting for the nozzle must only be original, because the quality of the foam produced by the device depends on this part.

The material of a high-quality foam nozzle is a nozzle made of of stainless steel, nozzle made of brass, tank made of dense and high-quality plastic. When choosing a foam nozzle, you should pay attention to its compliance with the existing model of the high-pressure apparatus, since the nozzle is used in tandem with it. For each type of nozzle, this information is always indicated by the seller.

Instructions for using the Karcher foam nozzle

Another advantage of foam lances is their ease of use. For example, a device such as a foam generator will require certain skills and knowledge; you need to be able to configure it, and also know everything about correct operation device. The foam nozzle does not require such conditions.

To work with the nozzle, first of all, unscrew the tank to fill it with detergents. The products are selected depending on the place where the foam nozzle is used. The concentration of chemicals is also selected based on the scope of application, since the flow of foam is then easily regulated in the nozzle itself. For example, if you need to wash 1 or 2 cars, then the concentration is small, so much so that it is enough for exactly this surface area. When using the attachment in industrial purposes or for a large volume of work, the concentration of chemicals in it is maximized, while the supply of foam flow is reduced using a regulator.

The process of using a foam nozzle as an example professional equipment Karcher:

The foam nozzle is put on the gun and secured using a union nut with internal thread on the nozzle. This nut is screwed onto the corresponding external thread on the gun.

To fill the detergent, the nozzle tank is unscrewed counterclockwise, the necessary substances are poured into it, and the tank is screwed back on. When removing the tank, all manipulations must be carried out very carefully, since the base is made of brass, and the tank itself is made of plastic. If handled incorrectly, the thread on the plastic container will be damaged, the tank will be damaged, and the resulting chips will clog the injector and damage the entire device.

To adjust the required amount of foam produced, rotate the regulator. This function changes the liquid supplied from the device to a thick foam head or a very liquid soap solution, depending on what consistency the foam is needed at the moment.

The width of the jet and its flight range are also adjustable. To do this, use a spray regulator.
After adjusting all the indicators and pouring liquid into the tank, the washing process begins. To do this, the foam is sprayed onto the contaminated surface and left for the required time. On average, for small contaminants, such as dust settled on the car body, 2-5 minutes are enough.
After waiting the required time, the foam is washed off with a stream of water from a Karcher high-pressure apparatus.

Today it has become rare in the city to see a person hand washing his car on the side of the road. Car washes have become firmly established in the everyday life and consciousness of city residents and are in constant demand, regardless of the brand of car.

Contactless car wash using a foam nozzle

Modern methods of washing cars

portal sink;
hand washing;
tunnel washing;
contactless car wash.

Portal car wash is a special washing portal complex consisting of huge rotating vertical and horizontal brushes arranged in a U-shape. They move along the platform with the car and, when jets of water are supplied, they wash using foaming detergents. Portal sink height for passenger cars is 2-2.7 m, and for trucks - 4.2 - 4.5 m. Available fans allow you to speed up the drying process of the car after washing.

Portal car wash Karcher

Tunnel washing is a sequence of washing and cleaning devices that a car gradually passes through. The devices are equipped with rotating vertical and horizontal brushes designed to clean various parts of the car, including the underbody and wheels. The complex includes devices for applying detergents, polishing and drying.

Tunnel car wash

The length of the tunnel complex can reach 45 meters. The car is allowed through the entire tunnel only once. All procedures for cleaning, washing, polishing and drying the car are carried out in one pass. For the driver sitting inside the car, the brushes rotating at breakneck speed can cause confusion. It may seem that they will rip off not only the dirt, but all the paint from the car.

Hand wash has now become widespread due to the simplicity of organization and the minimum cost of its implementation. When washing by hand, dirt is removed using soap solution or special shampoo, sponges and ordinary rags. Mostly students and young people work as washers.

If you look closely, you can see minor scratches on the paintwork from hand washing.

If the washers are conscientious about their work, the car will look clean and shiny after washing. However, if washers save on consumables and use the same sponges and brushes over and over again, the dirt and sand accumulated in them can become compacted, turn into sandpaper and cause scratches on the varnished surfaces car. Therefore, after washing your car at a car wash, it would be a good idea to take a close look at the shiny surface of the car body and glass.

Contactless car wash is gaining increasing recognition among car enthusiasts due to its main advantage that the cleaning process does not use material that rubs against the surface of the car. Here, it is not the mechanical action on the contaminated surface that is used, but the chemical action of the cleaning solution.

With contactless washing, no damage to the paintwork is noticeable.

Advantages and disadvantages of touchless washing

The principle of operation of a contactless car wash is based on the dissolution of dirt with a highly alkaline solution, which is in a foamy state and supplied to the surface to be treated under pressure. Due to the dynamic pressure and chemical reaction provided perfect cleanliness and the safety of the car's paintwork.

Contactless washing is that the dirt is dissolved by active foam, it is also called contactless foam, and then washed off with water. Thus, there is no contact of the brush or rag with the paintwork of the car body, and, therefore, it is possible to avoid scratches and other damage to the paintwork of the body.

The duration of cleaning is determined by the condition of the vehicle. If it has slight dirt, cleaning will take no more than 3-10 minutes. For large and multi-layered stains, cleaning may take longer and take up to 20 minutes, since in this case cleaning is carried out in two stages. To form foam with high content alkalis, special car shampoos and chemical reagents are used to ensure quick and effective cleaning.

Today on the market there are a large number of various mini-washes

To clean a car using a non-contact method, the following equipment and materials are required:

foam nozzle that forms foam (otherwise called “foaming agent”);
car shampoo to create active foam;
A high-pressure apparatus or “mini-washer” is produced by many companies and can have different designs and different meaning working pressure, which does not significantly affect the efficiency and final result of cleaning;
clean water, it’s good if the water is warm.

Foam nozzle for touchless washing or foam generator

This is what an Italian foam nozzle for contactless washing looks like, disassembled

There are two main options for touchless washing:

use of a foam generator;
use of a foam nozzle for contactless washing.

What is the difference between a foam generator and a foam nozzle and which is better?

more expensive - its cost is approximately 5 - 10 times more than the cost of a foam nozzle.
The foam generator requires a compressor.
The foam generator is more suitable for commercial purposes; it is not practical to use it at home.

Both of these devices are not included in the mini-wash kit and must be purchased separately. Without them, it is impossible to carry out a contactless wash, because they are the ones who produce the foam.

Here the foam nozzle is attached to the gun

Let's look at the principle of foam formation using an Italian foam nozzle for car shampoo:

A special car shampoo is poured into the nozzle and water is added in the required proportion. The ratio of shampoo and water is approximately 2.5-3 volumes of water for 1 volume of car shampoo;
the nozzle is connected to the pistol sprayer of the mini-wash;
When the high-pressure mini washer is turned on, it creates a high-pressure air stream in the gun, which sucks shampoo from the tank. The shampoo is mixed with water and this emulsion, as it exits the gun, breaks into a “tablet”, which causes splashing on the surface of the car. A “tablet” is a pressed metal mesh.

For home use, using a foam nozzle for a high-pressure apparatus (HPR) is the best choice.

This is what a foam generator that requires a compressor looks like

The foam generator is a large container from 25 to 100 liters, into which the reagent or car shampoo is poured and water is added in the required proportion in accordance with the instructions for using the reagent or shampoo. A special generator gun can have from one to four nozzles that produce foam. The air pressure supplied to the gun nozzles from the compressor must be more than 6 bar. The use of several nozzles allows you to increase the productivity of the foam generator and speed up the process of contactless cleaning. Foam generators are more effective in commercial car washes, where cleaning is carried out in parallel at several workstations and in large volumes. A foam generator requires a compressor.

The foam nozzle for contactless washing is equipped with its own special container for diluting foam shampoos in the required proportions. The proportions of water and shampoo may vary depending on the water used and how dirty the car is. detailed information The ratio of the components of the solution is given in the instructions for using car shampoo.

Note: It is important not to confuse and pour car shampoo into the container for the nozzle, and not into the mini-wash tank, and not to feed the solution into the mini-wash through the suction hose. Such actions will lead to failure of the mini washer. Foam nozzles are much simpler in design and use than foam generators. In addition, unlike foam generators, they do not require any additional equipment for their operation and, in addition, they do not need to be adjusted to a specific compressor pressure.

Foam nozzles are produced by the same companies that produce mini washers. Each company makes them differently. Foam nozzles for shampoo made in Italy are considered the best. They are suitable for almost all types of mini-washers, in particular for Karcher. In terms of production quality and foam density, they are also considered the best nozzles. Italian foam nozzles, absolutely identical in design and material used, are produced by two different companies RA and Idrobase.

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Video: Foam nozzle LS-3 disassembled down to the screw

The set of Italian foam nozzle for contactless washing includes:

one-liter plastic bottle;
suction tube;
spray foam.

Assembling the foam is not difficult even for a child:

the brass foam sprayer with plastic regulators is removed from the box;
a suction tube is put on the fitting at the bottom of the sprayer;
into a one-liter plastic bottle foam shampoo is poured in, and the bottle with car shampoo is screwed to the fitting cap with a tube installed. The concentration of the shampoo is selected in accordance with the instructions for its use.

In principle, after this, the foam nozzle for washing is ready for use and can be used. But the sprayer has two plastic adjustment knobs:

The upper thumbwheel regulator for supplying car shampoo to the mixing chamber of the sprayer is designed to adjust the density of the foam at the outlet. It is a micrometric screw with a nozzle, which, when tightened, reduces the opening of the fitting. Complete closure of the hole is not provided;
The front cylindrical foam jet shape control is a duck bill type flow distributor that allows you to transform a simple jet into a vertical fan with an opening angle of up to 40 degrees, which regulates the amount of foam.

The plastic bottle of the nozzle is made of particularly resistant to chemicals material with high mechanical strength.

Video: Test. Foam lance for Karcher from China Foam Lance

Procedure for contactless car washing

The whole process is as follows:

the body is doused with a stream of water from high pressure. Wetting and knocking down of dirt occurs;
prepare the product for contactless washing in accordance with the instructions;
the mini-wash turns on and pours foam over the entire body from bottom to top;
An exposure is given for one to two minutes so that the active substance eats away the dirt. The foam should not be allowed to dry out, which will lead to the formation of stains that are difficult to remove;
foam is washed off with water;
The body is drying. For faster drying, it is possible to use wax mixtures, which is also done using a mini-wash.

If you perform a contactless car wash yourself, you need to consider the following features:

To avoid any residue remaining, the body should be wiped with a soft cloth after finishing work;
do not allow the foam to dry out, especially on the roof of the car. When dry, stains remain that can be removed with polish;
To prevent the active reagent from drying out quickly, the body must first be well cooled with water. It also follows that it is not advisable to apply active foam to a hood heated in the sun;
It is not recommended to increase the concentration of shampoo beyond the limits specified in the instructions, since too active foam can change the tone of the paintwork. For the same reason, you should refrain from using active foam when washing new cars on which the paintwork has not yet settled after painting. Do not forget that the foam contains active, potent additives.
After using the foam nozzle, you need to pass it through clean water so that the foam tablet inside the sprayer does not become clogged with dried foam. The fact is that the tablet consists of a metal mesh; if it is not washed, the foam on the mesh dries out and the mesh becomes clogged.

Washing the foam is very simple:

a one-liter bottle is unscrewed from the foam sprayer;
the foam sprayer is connected to the mini-wash via a gun;
The mini-wash turns on and the water rinses the sprayer with the tablet.

The safest method for car body paint is a non-contact washing method using a foam generator (we also call it foam). The essence of this method comes down to applying a chemical detergent to the surface of the body in the form of fine foam. After application, it softens dirt and dust, then all that remains is to wash it off with a stream of water. with a paint coating (rag, brush, etc.) eliminates damage surface layers varnish, that is, the formation of the so-called “cobweb” is completely excluded. Therefore, this method of car washing is now a higher priority and more advanced.

The effectiveness of washing is in many ways - the higher its density, the better cleaning properties, less water consumption and chemicals. And it’s the foam generator that produces the foam. Therefore, the main task of a foam generator is to obtain finely dispersed dense foam, as well as its uniform distribution over the surface of the car body.

Foam generator design

Structurally, the foam generator is very similar to a conventional garden sprayer, circuit diagram they have almost the same. But there is one significant nuance - penogen is equipment that operates under high pressure.

The main components of this equipment are:

Cylinder (volume varies - from 25 to 100 liters).
Mixer.
Gun.
Connecting hose.

Large equipment, with a large capacity cylinder, can be installed on a transport trolley to ensure easy movement.

Since the equipment operates under high pressure, the cylinders are made of stainless or ordinary steel, but with mandatory coating with anti-corrosion agents. In some factory models, a measuring ruler is installed on the cylinder, which allows you to control consumption and timely refill.

Penogen cannot work independently, since it requires a supply of compressed air. For this purpose, there is a fitting on the cylinder for connecting a compressor. Typically the operating pressure for a foam generator is 5-6 Bar. To control the pressure, a pressure gauge is installed on the container; pressure adjustment is carried out using a pressure regulator included in the design.

Foam tablet

The main element of the mixer is the so-called foaming tablet. In reality, it is a fine-mesh mesh, folded in several layers and made of corrosion-resistant wire. It is installed in a housing mounted on the cylinder. And it is to this that the supply hose is connected. This tablet ensures that the primary foam supplied to it is broken down into a finely dispersed high-density fraction.

The principle of operation of the foam generator

DIY foam generator

The operating principle of the foam generator is very simple:

The washer fills the cylinder with a solution of water and foaming agent (detergent). The neck is then tightly closed, which ensures the container is sealed.
A compressor is connected and air is pumped to the required pressure.
When the gun valve is opened, air begins to squeeze out the solution through the nozzle, where primary foaming occurs.
Moving at high speed, the foamed solution hits the mesh of the foaming tablet and, passing through it, separates, which is accompanied by the formation of fine foam.
The finished foam is fed to the gun and then through the nozzle to the surface of the body.
If necessary, the washer can adjust the flow on the gun (make the spray front wider, increase the speed of the jet).

It is noteworthy that another equipment for contactless washing, a sprayer, works approximately on the same principle. But unlike a foam generator, at the exit from the gun it forms an emulsion, whose cleaning effect is lower than that of foam.

The difference between them comes down to the different application guns used. Emulsion is a slightly different state of liquid than foam, so to spray it you need a nozzle with an enlarged hole. In addition, it is impossible to adjust the emulsion supply parameters of the sprayer, that is, there are no adjustment elements on the gun. These nuances will help you easily distinguish a foam generator from a sprayer.

The main advantages of the foam generator are:

economical consumption of detergent;
the resulting foam has excellent cleaning function;
possibility of adjusting the jet flow;

There are two main disadvantages of this equipment - large dimensions and the need to connect a compressor. Of these qualities, a foam generator is considered equipment that is not very suitable for home use.

Foam kit as a type of foam generator

IN garage conditions It is better to use a foam kit - a variation of equipment for contactless car washing.

Gun with nozzle for washing. Connects via hose to high pressure washer

This equipment works a little differently. It also has a capacity, but it is significantly smaller in volume than the foam generator - only 1 liter. Also included in its design is a foaming agent, which immediately plays the role of a gun for application. But unlike foam, the foam kit does not work from a compressor; it is an attachment for high-pressure washers.

A container with a foaming agent, otherwise called a foam nozzle for contactless washing

Foam nozzle diagram

The foam kit works like this:

It fits onto the water supply hose from the high pressure washer.
After the washer is put into operation, water under high pressure is supplied to the foam generator, and from there to a container filled with detergent, where primary foaming occurs.
The resulting solution in the container is squeezed back into the foaming agent by the incoming water, where it passes through the foaming tablet.
At the exit of the tablet, finely dispersed foam is formed, which is supplied through a socket to the surface of the body.

For ease of use, extensions (spears) of different lengths can be connected to the foam generator to ensure the application of foam to any surface of the car, including the roof and underbody.

The stream obtained at the outlet of the foam kit can also be adjusted using a valve installed on the foam generator.

The foam kit is different:

small overall dimensions;
the resulting foam of good quality;
ease of filling (no water required to create a solution);

But without a high-pressure washer, the foam kit will not be able to work.

Due to the powerful jet produced at the output, the consumption of detergent for such equipment is slightly higher than for foam. In general, this is a completely acceptable option for contactless car washing at home. And the foam kit costs much less than a foam generator.

How to make your own foam generator for washing

Foam generator assembly

Considering the design of both types of equipment, you will notice that their main component is a foaming tablet, which can be purchased separately. This means that it is quite possible to make a foam generator with your own hands.

The easiest way to make it is to take a regular garden sprayer as a basis and modify it a little. At the beginning it was mentioned that the foam generator and the sprayer are structurally similar, and this fact is often used when creating homemade foam.

Foam tablet assembly

sprayer (volume may vary);
two ½-inch bends and nuts for them;
check valve;
air fitting;
foaming tablet and adapter for it;
metal tube.

Having all this, you can start remaking:

We cut off the pressure relief valve and the fitting for connecting the hose from the sprayer.
We insert the brackets into the resulting holes and secure them with nuts on both sides and using sealing gaskets.
We install a tube on one of the pipes (so that it almost reaches the bottom of the container), a check valve and an air fitting.
On the second run, we wind the foaming tablet through the adapter.
The manual pressure pump of the sprayer must be completely turned off, since it will not be needed and will only serve as a tank cap.

Video: DIY foam generator

All that remains is to connect the hose to the outlet fitting of the tablet, and attach a garden spray gun to the other end. At this point the product can be considered ready.

Working with it is not as convenient as with factory equipment, but it is quite acceptable. To wash your car you need to:

refill the container cleaning solution(at 2/3);
connect the compressor and pump air into the cylinder (it is important to monitor the pressure and not exceed the permissible limits);
after opening the sprayer valve, the air will squeeze out the solution, push it through the tablet, and at the exit from the gun we will get foam of quite acceptable quality;

Among the inconveniences of a homemade foam generator, one can note the need for periodic pumping up of pressure, since the homemade product is not equipped with a regulator, as well as the inability to adjust the output stream.

But the described design can always be improved by installing additional equipment to eliminate the shortcomings and improve the convenience of working with the foam generator.

Every car owner has to go to a car wash. Water procedures help maintain vehicle clean, and special products that are applied during washing create an additional barrier to dirt and protect the paintwork of the body. For high-quality cleaning, thick active foam is used, obtained by foaming in a special device. Some car enthusiasts use homemade foam generators when washing.

Benefits of using a foam generator for car washing

The foam generator is sold in a store that sells equipment for professional car washes. The price of a purchased foam generator is from 10 thousand. But if you take a branded device, you will have to pay twice as much. Not everyone can afford such costs. Therefore, below is a small instruction on how to make a foam generator yourself and spend only 500 to 2 thousand rubles on its production. In addition to saving Money, owner homemade generator receives the following benefits:

saving time - washing a car with active foam is faster, by about 10–15 minutes;
detergent is used more efficiently and economically;
active foam eliminates the use of a sponge, which helps protect the paintwork from mechanical stress;
The foam generator allows you to thoroughly clean hard-to-reach places.

We assemble it with our own hands: drawing diagram and manufacturing instructions

To understand the operating principle of the foam generator, below is a diagram. Water is poured into the container and detergent concentrate is added. Air from the compressor is supplied through stop valve. To control the pressure in the container, a pressure gauge must be used. The output is a mixture of water and detergent. It passes through a foam tablet which produces a dense active foam.

A simple and understandable diagram of a foam generator helps to understand the principle of operation of the device

What you will need for assembly

For self-made generator you will need:

Capacity.
Pressure gauge.
1 shut-off valve (it only allows air to flow in one direction).
1 tap (they regulate the supply of finished foam).
Metal tube.
Reinforced hoses that can withstand pressure of 6-8 atmospheres.
Metal clamps for reliable connection of hoses and fittings.
Foam tablet.

First of all, you need to decide on the capacity. The main requirement is the ability to withstand pressure of 5–6 atmospheres. If it is possible to carry out welding work, then for the generator you can use a receiver from a truck or an old compressor. Weld two one and a half inch fittings and a filler neck onto the top of the body. The optimal volume is 20–30 liters, which is enough for personal use.

If you have an old water heater lying around in your garage or barn, you can use it to create a foam generator. In this case, welding work is not necessary.

How to make a foam generator without welding: video

won't be needed. How to do it, watch the video: https://youtu.be/yF8xmbzRuBw

Homemade unit from an old sprayer

Every summer resident's household must have an old sprayer that is a pity to throw away. With a little modification and using the drawing included above, it can easily be converted into a foam generator. Let's get started:

Remember that the sprayer body can withstand a pressure of 4-5 atmospheres. Do not overdo it, monitor the pressure using the pressure gauge.

We buy a foam tablet in the store or make it ourselves. The main element of the tablet is a metal mesh. It is easy to make from ordinary metal brush for dishes. It is sold at any hardware store.

Using a homemade device: highlights

Pour water through the neck to ⅔ of the total volume of the container and add detergent concentrate in the amount indicated on the package. Usually this is 10-20 g per 1 liter of water. Close the neck and outlet valve securely. We supply compressed air from the compressor to the inlet. Be sure to monitor the pressure according to the pressure gauge needle.

At the outlet we connect a hose with a nozzle for watering. Gradually open the tap. We direct the hose to the car and apply foam. The density can be adjusted using a garden watering nozzle.

Thick active foam quickly corrodes dirt and removes it from the surface without a washcloth.

The foamed car should stand for 10–15 minutes. Active foam flows off along with the dirt. Then just rinse off the foam with plain water and wipe the surface of the car.

As you can see, it is not difficult to assemble a foam generator with your own hands. No special skills or abilities are required. It will cost 10-15 times cheaper than purchased. The quality of washing will increase several times, and the savings in time and detergent are noticeable. Remember that the eyes are afraid, but the hands do. Good luck!

A foam generator for foam concrete is special equipment that produces a mass of foam for mixing the solution. It is used for the production of cellular types of concrete masses; its action is based on the generation of air-mechanical foam.

When the device operates according to a predetermined scheme, highly dispersed, stable foam is mixed with cement-sand mortar. As a result, the end result is an air-saturated mixture whose density is much less than conventional concrete, and whose air permeability characteristics are higher. That is, a house built from foam concrete blocks will have walls similar in properties to natural wood, "breathable".

Let's take a closer look at what a foam generator is, what its structure and principle of operation are, and whether it is possible to assemble a foam generator with your own hands.

Foam generator operation

The device for creating foam concrete is relatively simple; its diagram consists of five blocks:

vortex pump supplying compressed air to the equipment;
generator for creating a special foam mass;
device that provides dosed automatic feeding mixtures of liquid and air;
the foaming agent itself;
node for equipment control.

This scheme works according to simple principle: using a vortex pump, the foaming liquid is mixed with air under pressure, after which the resulting mass enters the container, where it occurs. The process itself is extremely simple, while the resulting foam concrete is much higher in quality than usual, mixed only with a concrete mixer.

The device for producing foam concrete is simple; if desired, you can assemble it yourself from an ordinary metal container, a pump and supply hoses. It is connected to a concrete mixer, allowing you to obtain a high-quality mixture, from which blocks for construction are formed.

Types of equipment

The modern construction market offers different kinds foaming agents, each of which has its own characteristics, has pros and cons: the first - continuous action, or non-reversible, the second is cyclic, that is, reversible.

A continuous foaming agent allows for constant, continuous supply mass into the mixer, where the solution is prepared. Cyclic equipment, in contrast to non-reversible equipment, assumes that the operator will independently pour liquid into the receiver each time to form foam, and then manipulate the taps to make settings.

Thus, the first foaming agent is more profitable; it allows you to reduce all work to a minimum, reducing time costs.

With this choice, the components are also supplied quite economically.

Today on the market you can purchase devices not only from domestic manufacturers, but also from foreign ones, but the cost of such foam concentrates can be quite high, so often for construction small house on summer cottage used for concrete. It is assembled quite simply from scrap materials that any craftsman usually has, so its cost is much less. You just need to purchase special remedy for foaming and start working.

Foaming agent Fomm-PGM

A variety of foaming agents can be used to produce foam concrete blocks, but equipment such as Fomm-PGM has proven itself best. This automatic machine is easy to set up, after which you just need to add all the required components to get high-quality, durable and reliable foam concrete at the output.

This installation is non-reversible, it consists of three modules, including:

module for supplying solution, independently pumped from the prepared container. If the device has such a module, then it is semi-automatic;
a converting module, with the help of which a mass of foam is created for the future foam concrete;
dosing digital module operating in automatic mode. Using this device you can set required amount solution by simply pressing a button. This is what allows us to guarantee high quality of the mixture.

Fomm-PGM foaming agent allows you to quickly obtain a high-quality mixture. The equipment works perfectly with concrete mixers, mortar units, plastering stations, which only increases comfort. To operate the device, a separate connection to a compressor is required, the pressure of which is from six atmospheres, and the productivity is from half cubic meter in a minute. Almost anyone can set up such a device.

Self-installation

Collecting is not as difficult as it might seem at first glance. You need to start by preparing a container into the cavity of which air and an aqueous solution will be supplied to form foam. The best option is a cylindrical tank made of metal. Such a container is installed on the ground, after which it is necessary to ensure the presence submersible pump, which will supply the solution through the built-in hose into the concrete mixer. Using another hose, compressed air will be supplied to the container through the compressor, and the equipment will be adjusted using a valve. To increase the pressure in the container, you just need to tighten this valve more, that is, the setup and circuit are extremely simple.

Using the same valve, the supply of water and foam concentrate is regulated. Setting up the equipment is enough to do once; there is no need to repeat this operation every time, which makes working with the device much easier.

There is one more nuance: the device must have a nozzle through which the mixture will be supplied. This will provide more high pressure, that is, the quality of the foam will be better.

Configuration and formulation of foam concrete

The characteristics of foam blocks depend on how correctly the equipment is configured. The quality of the foam and its density also have a great influence. Therefore, the foam generator used must correctly mix water, the finished emulsion and air. Setting parameters after assembling the foam generator are carried out using paired valves; opening/closing of the system is ensured by special shut-off valves.

So, let’s set up a foam generator, for which we need to take the components of the mixture. When setting up equipment, it is important to maintain the recipe of the future concrete, which is not as difficult as it might seem. We offer a recipe for foam concrete blocks with a density of 800:

500 DO - 320 kg;
fine sand (not silty, without clay particles) - 400 kg;
water - 180 liters;
water for foam formation - 50 liters;
total amount of foam - 630 liters;
special foaming agent (Arecom works well) - 1.2 liters.

Foam production is carried out in this way: first, water is poured in for the solution, after which cement and sand are poured. After this, foam for concrete is produced and everything is mixed. The foam is supplied through a special mixer, its pressure can be one atmosphere, the pressure of the foam generator is about six atmospheres with a working capacity of 150 liters.

The given recipe is not the most optimal, since different purposes require concrete with different characteristics. To obtain such blocks, the number of ingredients may vary.

Final conclusions

Quite often, when building a private house, foam concrete is used, which has many advantages over other materials. In particular, this is its low cost with excellent strength and thermal insulation properties. But instead of acquiring ready-made blocks, foam concrete can be made with your own hands, using special device and ingredients for the mixture.

The foam generator can be purchased at hardware store or assemble it yourself, but quality concrete mixture it will depend on how correctly the mixture recipe was selected and the equipment was configured.

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