Methods for removing overspray from air flow exiting painting booths

Abstract

A method for removing overspray from air flow exiting a painting booth may include passing the air flow through an incoherent mass of cleaning elements, which are kept in a stirred condition, so as to release the overspray onto the cleaning elements of the incoherent mass.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for removing overspray from air flow exiting a painting booth, the method comprising:
 passing the air flow through an incoherent mass of cleaning elements, which are kept in a stirred condition, so as to release the overspray onto the cleaning elements of the incoherent mass.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning elements have a size that is between 100 and 10,000 times greater than an average size of paint droplets which form the overspray. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 producing the cleaning elements from combustible material;   using the cleaning elements in the air flow in order to remove the overspray;   extracting the paint-soiled cleaning elements; and   burning the extracted cleaning elements, the paint on the extracted cleaning elements, or the extracted cleaning elements and the paint on the extracted cleaning elements.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein during the burning, thermal energy is recovered, electricity is produced, or the thermal energy is recovered and the electricity is produced. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the overspray comprises liquid paint. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein an average size of paint droplets which form the overspray is greater than or equal to 7×10 −6  meters and less than or equal to 1.5×10 −5  meters. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the paint droplets comprise liquid paint. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning elements have a size that is between 500 and 5,000 times greater than an average size of paint droplets which form the overspray. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning elements have a size that is about 1,000 times greater than an average size of paint droplets which form the overspray. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning elements comprise pellets, chips, or pellets and chips. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the cleaning elements comprise plant material, inert material, or plant material and inert material. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the cleaning elements has an individual shape, and
 wherein the individual shape has at least one dimension greater than 1 millimeter (mm).   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the individual shape is generally cylindrical, conical, spherical, cubic, or tetrahedral. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the individual shape is irregular. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the individual shape is generally cylindrical. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the individual shape is generally cylindrical, with a diameter between 2 millimeters (mm) and 10 mm, and a length between 3 mm and 40 mm. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a mechanical stirrer for keeping the cleaning elements in the stirred condition comprises a rotating stirring device comprising vanes, arms, or surfaces which have varied inclinations. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a mechanical stirrer for keeping the cleaning elements in the stirred condition comprises a rotating stirring device comprising vanes, arms, or surfaces which are configured to rotate inside the mass of the cleaning elements. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a mechanical stirrer for keeping the cleaning elements in the stirred condition comprises a rotating stirring device comprising vanes, arms, or surfaces which have varied inclinations and which are configured to rotate inside the mass of the cleaning elements. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a mechanical stirrer for keeping the cleaning elements in the stirred condition comprises a screw feeder or an Archimedes' screw system.