We are in the process of adding and reconfiguring the position of our blowers in our car wash tunnel. Our tunnel is 120 feet long and we have nine 15hp Sonnys blowers. I called Sonnys and had them send me over a diagram of the "ideal" position that the blowers should be located on the 3 arches that we have available to mount the blowers. They stated that the positioning should basically be a V pattern with the two blowers next to each other on the first arch, two blowers with a gap that straddles the space between the blowers on the first arch, and 5 blowers on the third arch - 3 on top (one in the middle and two further apart on the top and 2 on the sides. Do you all think this would be the best setup to achieve the driest vehicle?
Blower Configuration for Tunnel Wash
- Thread starter hkim310
- Start date
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
- Messages
- 6,342
- Reaction score
- 926
- Points
- 113
Various factors affect stuff. I suggest you watch how your blowers move the water. Changed blowers at one location when I bought some used stuff. Ususly a top blower would be at 90" clearnace. Because of some flipping nozzles on the last ones the first one is at 96". Was not happy because closer is usualy better. Then I noted the wider air stream at this level cleared most water from the entire width of the top surface , then came 2 flipping top nozlles about 6 feet later. On that same arch are 2 angled sides that hit at the corners of the roof on down. All top an side surfaces from window level up are really dry. Could use 2 more angled sides but that will come. HAve about 15' of drip space. Blowers are 15HP AVW. Flipping tops are the newer plastic housing. The others are the older SS Blowers.
I was thinking about the flash drying idea as well but it looks like the blowers that are used for that are different than the blowers that I currently have. After doing the configuration it does look like we are getting a dryer car than before, but I am not completely satisfied. We are currently using an LMI metering pump for our drying agent and I'm not sure if its doing the best job. Our drying agent is administered through a rain bar. Was thinking about changing out the LMI metering pump for a hydrominder. Any thoughts?
Earl Weiss
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
- Messages
- 6,342
- Reaction score
- 926
- Points
- 113
Depending on the set up it may be easier to vary the temperature. of the DA. We try to make it slightly warmer than City temp. The setting arch is still cold. Can't say why but increasing the temp of the DA slightly seems to make it work better but increasing the setting temp does not seem to make any difference. .
robert roman
Bob Roman
“After doing the configuration (v-pattern) it does look like we are getting a dryer car than before, but I am not completely satisfied.”
Earl makes some good points about flash dry, etc. but there is also finish quality to consider.
For example, to get a dry car, you first need to have a clean car. Assuming cars are coming clean, another factor that would make drying quality a variable is rinsing.
For example, a car finished with drying agent is not going to dry as well as a vehicle finished with rain-x online.
Even one finished with Rain-X won’t come completely dry because the force holding the smallest droplets of water is too great. This is why V-pattern is a common practice.
Getting rid of smallest drops is possible at great expense, heated air.
Earl makes some good points about flash dry, etc. but there is also finish quality to consider.
For example, to get a dry car, you first need to have a clean car. Assuming cars are coming clean, another factor that would make drying quality a variable is rinsing.
For example, a car finished with drying agent is not going to dry as well as a vehicle finished with rain-x online.
Even one finished with Rain-X won’t come completely dry because the force holding the smallest droplets of water is too great. This is why V-pattern is a common practice.
Getting rid of smallest drops is possible at great expense, heated air.
