Why Chemical Delivery Systems Need Customizing for Your Facility

Why Chemical Delivery Systems Need Customizing for Your FacilityIn any industrial process involving chemicals, careful storage, delivery, and disposal of potentially hazardous substances is essential for both safety and efficiency. The chemicals need to be readily available in the correct amounts wherever required in the process. However, the storage of chemicals in the middle of a production line is unlikely to be practical or safe. This requires chemical delivery systems that can seamlessly fit into a facility without increasing risks or reducing productivity.

There is no single solution for chemical storage and delivery systems for industrial facility designers, and the design and placement of the chemical handling equipment will vary from facility to facility. The way chemicals are used directly impacts the system’s design, and the specific kinds of chemicals involved mean that safety aspects need to be considered case by case.

For example, if solvents are used specific materials with fire suppression features must be incorporated to meet safety requirements.  What’s more, all of this usually will need to fit within the restrictions of the existing building unless a new facility is built from scratch.

Bearing all this in mind, custom chemical delivery systems are the most effective way of solving these common problems, and three key points should be addressed right from the start of the design.

  1. Chemical Storage

Whether your process involves high volumes of a single chemical or mixtures of several different ones, they need to be stored in a way that combines complete safety with easy access. The storage units need to be accessible to receive deliveries from suppliers and be kept in an area where any potential leaks or spills can be contained.  They also need full accessibility for efficient delivery to the production line. Modutek can design chemical delivery systems that access chemical storage units up to 100 yards from their point of use. This keeps dangerous substances in controlled conditions far from their point of use to minimize risks without compromising productivity.

  1. Safe and Efficient Chemical Delivery

In most facilities, there’s much more to chemical delivery than simply pumping fluids from storage to the processing location. The chemicals need to be delivered in the exact quantities the process requires, in the correct sequence, and at the right time intervals.

There will also need to be a mechanism for handling delivery failure without risking damage to the facility or wasting the other materials involved in the process. In addition, the system should keep track of the quantities of each chemical used, streamlining stock management and replenishment. Each of these factors will be different depending on the details of the application, so a chemical delivery system designed by experienced experts is vital.

  1. Safe Chemical Disposal in Line with Regulations

Most chemical processes create waste that is still chemically active and often toxic, corrosive, or dangerous in other ways. Safe collection and disposal procedures are essential to protect the facility’s employees and meet all relevant environmental regulations and legal responsibilities. In most cases, residual chemicals must be neutralized on-site before disposal or collected and securely stored before transportation to a dedicated disposal facility. Depending on the specific chemicals involved, the collection and neutralization process can be hazardous, involving toxic vapors, corrosive liquids, and countless other potential dangers. Again, the choice of chemical-handling equipment used during disposal depends entirely on the range of chemicals involved and the risks they create.

The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for the ideal solution for your facility, Modutek has the in-house expertise, experience, and engineering capability to produce customized chemical delivery systems to meet your specific requirements. Modutek also provides a full range of chemical neutralization, collection, and disposal equipment, to ensure your on-site systems meet regulatory requirements and operate reliably with maximum efficiency and safety. Contact Modutek for a free consultation to discuss your facility’s specific chemical delivery and handling requirements.

 

Designing Chemical Delivery Systems to Meet Facility Requirements

Because semiconductor manufacturing facilities use a variety of chemicals to clean, etch and process silicon wafers, chemical delivery systems are critical for ensuring that operations run smoothly. Chemical handling equipment delivers or collects the required chemicals for the safe disposal of the chemical waste. Effective chemical delivery systems remove concerns about the availability and correct mixture of process chemicals and allow operators to focus on issues directly affecting silicon wafer fabrication, such as wafer cleaning, etch rates, and particle contamination. When chemical delivery systems exactly meet facility requirements, a focus on the fabrication processes lets operators optimize production and helps improve output.

Adapting Receiving and Storage of Chemicals to Facility Requirements

Chemical delivery depends on how many different chemicals a facility requires and the volume of the chemicals used. Chemical characteristics such as toxicity also have to be considered. For facilities using a variety of chemicals in varying quantities, a special area may be needed to centralize reception and storage functions.

For small volumes of chemicals, a standard drum located near the process may be the most convenient. For large volumes, receiving and storing chemical totes monitored with a load cell to track chemical use could be the best solution. For dangerous chemicals, containment of possible leaks and special safety measures may be required to ensure compliance with environmental and safety regulations. A competent manufacturer of chemical delivery and storage systems can evaluate these factors and make corresponding recommendations.

Ensuring Timely and Reliable Delivery of Chemicals to the Process

The key function of chemical delivery systems is to ensure that the required chemicals are provided in precise amounts as needed for the process. Silicon wafer fabrication steps clean and etch wafers with mixtures of chemicals that have to be delivered to process tanks. Each step requires precise quantities of chemicals delivered in sequence and at timed or process-dependent intervals. Each facility has different process steps and different chemical delivery requirements. A well-designed chemical delivery system will reliably provide exactly the right chemical in the specified volume at the correct time.

Collecting and Disposing of Used Chemicals Safely

Once a process step is complete, the chemical mixture that remains is often still chemically active, toxic and dangerous. The wafers will have been removed from the chemical bath and the used chemicals need to be safely treated or collected and disposed. For example, acids used in wafer etching are hazardous for operators, harmful for the environment and even the vapors may be dangerous.

Disposal of chemical waste has to be in accordance with local safety and environmental regulations. The chemical system can either drain the chemical waste and send it to an on-site chemical neutralization system for treatment, or to storage in a chemical collection container. Used chemicals in chemical collection containers can be picked up by service providers that specialize in chemical disposal. In either case, the chemical handling has to be carried out safely while containing any leaks or spills.

Modutek’s Expertise with Chemical Delivery Systems

Modutek has extensive experience designing and building customized chemical delivery systems. With in-house expertise in designing and supplying a full line of chemical handling equipment and systems, Modutek can evaluate a facility’s chemical delivery needs and make corresponding recommendations. If you need guidance on selecting the right chemical handling equipment and systems for your facility, contact Modutek for a free consultation.