Why Does Communication Module Cleaning Generate So Much Rinse Wastewater?
Read this article to understand why communication module cleaning systems generate large volumes of rinse wastewater and how alternative rinsing processes can reduce conventional DI water discharge.
Where Does the Cleaning Wastewater Come From?
When discussing wastewater from communication module cleaning, it is important to identify which part of the process actually generates the wastewater.
A typical aqueous cleaning process consists of: Washing → Rinsing → Drying
The washing section usually circulates its cleaning solution.
The rinsing section is different. Conventional systems often use a continuous supply of DI water to rinse the product after chemical washing. This creates the main stream of liquid wastewater.
Washing Liquid Is Normally Reused
Cleaning chemistry in the washing section is generally not discharged after every product.
Instead, it is circulated through the machine.
A simplified washing cycle is: Pump → Filter → Spray → Product → Tank → Pump → Filter
The cleaning solution can therefore be reused for multiple cleaning cycles before it needs to be replaced.
The replacement frequency depends on contamination loading and process requirements.
Therefore, when discussing wastewater reduction, the rinsing process deserves particular attention.
The Traditional DI Water Rinsing Process
After chemical washing, residual cleaning chemistry needs to be removed.
The conventional solution is to use DI water
The process can be represented as:
Multi-stages DI Water Rinse → Used DI Water → Wastewater Treatment
For continuous inline production, fresh DI water is continuously supplied while used rinse water is discharged.
How Much Wastewater Can Be Generated?
The amount depends on the machine configuration, rinse flow rate, number of rinse sections, conveyor speed and production conditions.
For example, based on operating conditions for an inline cleaning process, rinse-water consumption can reach approximately: 500–800 L/h. That means a production line operating for 8 hours could potentially generate 4-6.4 tons of rinse wastewater in one shift.
The exact amount depends on the actual process settings.
Why Is This a Problem?
Large amounts of rinse wastewater can create additional requirements for the factory.
Wastewater Treatment
The discharged water needs to be collected and treated according to the factory’s wastewater-management system.
DI Water Consumption
Continuous rinsing requires a stable supply of DI water.
Factory Infrastructure
Water supply, drainage and wastewater treatment capacity must be considered when installing additional cleaning equipment.
Operating Cost
Water production, wastewater treatment and related utilities all contribute to the overall operating cost of the cleaning process.
Can the Rinsing Process Be Designed Differently?
Yes.
Instead of continuously supplying DI water for rinsing, GC860 uses chemical cleaning liquid as the rinse medium.
The rinse liquid is then collected and processed:
Chemical Liquid Rinsing → Rinse Liquid Recovery → Distillation → Reuse
The objective is to keep the rinse liquid within the cleaning system rather than continuously discharging it.
From Wastewater Management to Liquid Recovery
This changes the way the cleaning process is designed.
The conventional approach is: Use → Discharge → Treat
The GC860 approach is: Use → Recover → Distill → Reuse
This is the fundamental difference behind its zero-wastewater rinsing concept.
Conclusion
For communication module cleaning, reducing wastewater does not necessarily mean reducing the effectiveness of the cleaning process.
The key question is: How is the rinsing liquid managed after it contacts the product?
By recovering, distilling and reusing the rinse liquid, GC860 provides an alternative to conventional continuous DI-water rinsing for SIP post-solder cleaning applications.
