Glossary of Terms T to Z
Tannin Formula Agents - Spotting or pre-cleaning agents used to clean tannin stains. A tannin formula is a mixture of an acid and a neutral lubricant.
TCA - See 1,1,1-Trichloroethane.
TCE - See Trichloroethylene.
Tech Kleen® - An n-propyl bromide based drycleaning solvent stabilized with 1,2-epoxybutane. Tech Kleen® is marketed by Tech Chem.
Temporary Vapor Storage (TVS) - An emission reduction technology which provides for efficient, economic recovery and temporary storage of perchloroethylene vapors using a high capacity polymeric adsorbent.
Tetrachloroethylene or Tetrachloroethene - See Perchloroethylene.
Tetrachloromethane - See Carbon Tetrachloride.
Third Generation Drycleaning Machine - A closed-loop (dry-to-dry) drycleaning machine equipped with a refrigerated condenser.
Titanium Stripper - A common reducing bleach used on dye stains and to make whites whiter. The active ingredients are titanous sulfate (10 - 15%) and 1- 4% sulfuric acid.
Tonsil® Filter Aid - A filter powder composed of acid activated calcium bentonite. It is used with spin disc filter systems in hydrocarbon solvent dry cleaning machines.
Transfer Machine - Drycleaning system in which the washing and drying operations take place in two separate units. Some transfer operations have employed three machines: a machine where the clothing is washed; an extractor, where the solvent is extracted from the clothing by centrifugal force; and a dryer (tumbler or reclaimer). Also known as a Cold Machine or a First Generation Drycleaning Machine. 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCA) - a.k.a. methyl chloroform, a chlorinated solvent that was formerly used to limited extent as a primary drycleaning solvent (particularly in leather cleaning operations) and was a common dry-side spotting agent. There were problems with equipment corrosion in TCA drycleaning operations. See Dowclene Ls.
Trichloroethylene or Trichloroethene (TCE) - A chlorinated solvent that has been used as both a drycleaning solvent and a dry-side spotting agent. One problem with TCE is that is causes bleeding of many acetate dyes.
True Soap -An early type of drycleaning detergent. True soaps are colloidal sols or gels composed of soap and fatty acid mixtures.
Tubular Filter - A cylindrically shaped, fine-mesh screen supported internally by a coiled wire. These elements are hung vertically from a manifold inside the filter. Solvent flows inward through the walls of the elements, then upward. These elements often are coated with a precoat of powder filter to prevent clogging and maintain proper cake porosity.
Tumbler - A dryer in a transfer operation that vents dryer vapors to the atmosphere. Also known as Non-recovery Unit or Tumbling Unit.
Tumbling Unit - See Tumbler.
Turpentine Spirits - One of the earliest drycleaning solvents. It is produced from the distillation of pine tar.
Two Bath System - A system in which garments are first run through a solvent/detergent wash cycle and then, to remove residual detergent and soils, through a relatively pure solvent “rinse” cycle.
Vacuum Still - A device that enables drycleaners to distill petroleum-based solvent safely. In this system, air must be pumped out of the still to create a 26-28 inch vacuum, permitting petroleum solvents to be distilled at reduced temperatures (approximately 100° F) and within safe limits.
Vacuum Unit - A device that collects condensed steam from steam presses and the spotting board. Collection of the steam condensate is by means of a small vacuum pump that is mounted on top of the unit. The condensate water is collected in a tank located at the base of the unit.
Vacuum Water - Wastewater collected through a vacuum line. This wastewater is generated in pre-cleaning, spotting and steam pressing operations. It is contact water and is contaminated with solvent and spotting agents. Vacuum water collected from steam pressing operations is also known as Press Return Water.
Valclene – A Chlorofluorocarbon drycleaning solvent developed by DuPont in the 1960s. Also known as 1,1,2-Trichlorotrifluoroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, Freon 113, Fluorocarbon 113, CFC 113.
Vapor Adsorber - See Carbon Adsorber.
Vapor Recovery Unit - A device used to trap solvent vapors. The vapor recovery unit can recover perc for reuse from vents of a vented dry-to-dry machine, from a dryer of a transfer machine, or from ventilation vents in the workplace. See Refrigerated Condenser, Carbon Adsorber, SOLVATION, and Temporary Vapor Storage.
Vapor Adsorber - See Carbon Adsorber.
Vented Dry-to-Dry Machine - A refrigerated condensation unit from which all the exhaust vapors are vented to the atmosphere when the drycleaning machine door is opened at the end of the drying cycle. With a vented system, about 85 percent control of solvent vapors is achieved compared to an uncontrolled machine. Also known as a second Generation Drycleaning Machine.
Vented Refrigerated Condenser - A refrigerated condensation unit that vents exhaust vapors to the atmosphere from the cylinder when the machine door is opened at the end of the drying cycle.
Ventless Refrigerated Condenser - A refrigerated condensation unit which does not vent vapors to the atmosphere.
Washer (drycleaning) - A machine used to clean clothing by immersing and agitating them in solvent.
Washer-Extractor - The heart of the drycleaning machine. It contains a horizontal, perforated drum or cylinder that rotates within an outer shell. The shell holds the solvent while rotating drum holds the garment load. The machine first washes the garments then extracts the solvent by rotating at high speed. In a “hot” or dry-to-dry machine, the washer-extractor also serves as the reclaiming dryer.
Water Separator - A device that utilizes gravity to physically separate water that has become mixed with the drycleaning solvent. Water separators are found on stills, dryers, muck cookers and vapor recovery units. They prevent the water from returning with the solvent to the solvent storage tank.
Water Soluble Soil - Soil which dissolves in water. Such substances include: sugar, starch, gums, salt, flavoring agents and syrups, as well as a variety of substances found in foods and beverages.
Wetcleaning - A professional cleaning technique that uses detergents and water. Specialized machines are used that can be programmed to control such variables as mechanical action, water drying temperature, moisture levels in the dryer and water and detergent volume.
Wet-side Spotting Agent - A pre-cleaning or spotting chemical used to remove water- soluble stains or soils. Examples of wet-side spotting agents include: water, synthetic detergents, ammonia, acids and alkalis. Wet Wash - See Laundering. Wheel - The cylinder rotating drum or tumbler within the washer-extractor of a drycleaning machine.
Wholesale Supply Facility - A commercial establishment that supplies drycleaning solvents and drycleaning supplies to drycleaning facilities.