Fixed-location reclaim solution for van

[AMDin93103]

Shortest of the long.....

I am a mobile auto detailer and have a Vacuboom system (101 CFM) that I use to reclaim about 15 gallons per stop. I have been going through the cumbersome task of pouring the grey water into 5 gallon cans and then disposing. The are two aspects that I find very inefficient: set-up/break-down of the hoses and boom as well as emptying the Vacuum unit every time it fills to ~7 gallons. This will hopefully change with the new arrangement I am imagining.

I propose simply replacing the housing that the Vacuboom uses with a 30 gallon loaf tank affixed to the floor in my van; fastening the existing hoses to the tank as well as dropping the Vacuum Motor into the top and securing it with a small sump to exit the grey for disposal. The only investment being the loaf tank and some fittings.

My questions:
1). Does the volume of the cavity that the motor sits in effect the performance? Will the vacuum motor get more lift or operate more efficiently having a smaller space it rests in?

2). Calculating the step-in height of the van, the tank and slight variance in the level of the terrain parked, can I expect the 101 CFM unit to actually pick the waste off the surface from just over three feet?

2b). If not, what size motor should I consider?

3). What other issues have I overlooked, you guys and gals are the experts!

[Lightning Gene]

15 gallons per stop? You must not clean much area at those stops...

[AMDin93103]

I am an Auto Detailer; 2-4 vehicles are cleaned per stop.

[One Tough Pressure]

You need to be sure that loaf tank is vacuum rated, or it will collapse. Why not just add a sump to the vacuum and discharge to either a tank or onsite as allowed?

Leaaving the vacuum on the van and just running the hose out may work depending on how many feet of hose and how many booms you are using. You can add a vacuum motor and double your specs, or you can replace with larger spec motors. Mine is 224 cfm and 106" lift vs the 202 cfm and 87" of lift.

[AMDin93103]

Is vacuum rated a difficult thing to find? I could (and do) currently unload the vacuum unit (with sump) from the van at each stop but think it may prove to be much more efficient just having to pull out the hose and boom instead. My workspace has become serious spaghetti with cord and hoses....

Maybe a higher rated Vacuum motor with a vacuum rated tank is the way to go. I will double check the Vacuboom's vacuum specs and adjust accordingly. Any leads on the tank?!

Thanks a lot.

[One Tough Pressure]

A loaf tank would do way better than a rectangle tank as far as vacuum is concerned. However that is not what they are made for, and custom tanks lie this are not cheap. Just sump the vacuum and then put in a tank as needed.

Do you need more vacuum? Do your booms leak? How many booms do you use? Unless you have a different vacuum than what they normally use, then the specs are 101 cfm and 87" of lift or about 6 Hg.