Processes and apparatuses for controlling microbial growth in a tunnel washer

Abstract

Processes and apparatus for controlling microbial growth in a tunnel washer. Appropriate chemicals can be injected or mixed with water from a tunnel washer to reduce the microbial load in the water. A microbial load of the water may be determined and then an appropriate amount of chemical(s) added to the water to reduce a microbial load of the water.

Claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for sanitizing a tunnel washing system, the process comprising:
 treating water from the tunnel washing system in order to reduce a microbial load of the water.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the treating comprises injecting a chemical into the water. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the chemical is selected from a group consisting of: sodium hypochlorite, sodium chlorite, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, peracids, phthalimido-peroxy-hexanoic acid, magnesium monoperoxyphthalate (mmpp), sodium percarbonate/sodium perborate, quaternary ammonium chlorides, poly(oxyethylene(dimethyliminio)ethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene dichloride, tributyl tetradecyl phosphonium chloride, silver nitrate, copper salts, 2,2-dibromo-3-nitriloproprionamide, 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the treating occurs between wash cycles of the tunnel washing system. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the treating occurs continuously. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining a microbial load of the water; and,   determining a treatment based on the determined microbial load.   
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the determining the microbial load of the water further comprises obtaining a measurement of a parameter of the water, the measurement being utilized to determine the microbial load. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 injecting a chemical into the water to reduce the microbial load of the water, when the determined microbial load exceeds a predetermined value.   
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 determining an amount of the chemical to inject based on the determined microbial load.   
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein the measurement is obtained at regular intervals. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein the measurement is obtained online. 
     
     
         12 . A process for controlling microbial proliferation in a tunnel washing system, the process comprising:
 washing textiles in a tunnel washing system with at least water;   determining a microbial load of the water from the tunnel washing system; and,   injecting a chemical into the from the tunnel washing system in order to reduce a microbial load of the water when the determined microbial load exceeds a predetermined value.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the determining the microbial load of the water further comprises obtaining a measurement of a parameter of the water, the measurement being utilized to determine the microbial load. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the measurement is obtained at regular intervals. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the injecting occurs between wash cycles of the tunnel washing system. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the measurement is obtained online. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining an amount of the chemical to inject based on the determined microbial load.   
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the chemical is selected from a group consisting of: sodium hypochlorite, sodium chlorite, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, peracids, phthalimido-peroxy-hexanoic acid, magnesium monoperoxyphthalate (mmpp), sodium percarbonate/sodium quaternary perborate, ammonium chlorides, poly(oxyethylene(dimethyliminio)ethylene (dimethyliminio) ethylene dichloride, tributyl tetradecyl phosphonium chloride, silver nitrate, copper salts, 2,2-dibromo-3-nitriloproprionamide, 2-n-octyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one, 2-bromo-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         19 . A tunnel washing system comprising:
 a tunnel washer configured to received soiled textiles and water and provide laundered textiles;   a tank configured to collect the water from the tunnel washer to be recycled to the tunnel washer;   a source of a chemical, the chemical configured to reduce a microbial load of the water when the chemical is introduced to the water; and,   a line configured to provide the chemical from the source of the chemical to the tunnel washer.   
     
     
         20 . The tunnel washing system of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a sensor configured to obtain at least one measurement relating to a parameter of the water; 
 a controller configured to receive the at least one measurement and determine a microbial load of the water; and, 
 a pump in the line, wherein the pump is in communication with the controller and configured to respond to signals from the controller to adjust an introduction of the chemical to the tunnel washer.