Process water reuse system for low pH binders

A fiberglass insulation forming line comprising:

• a forming hoodwall operable to combine a low pH binder and glass fibers to form said fiberglass insulation, said forming hoodwall being cleaned with a first washwater to remove excess low pH binder and debris from said forming hoodwall;
• additional production components, including a forming fan, a suction box and a drop out box, cooperable with said forming hoodwall in the formation of said fiberglass insulation, said additional production components being cleaned with a second washwater to remove debris therefrom;
• a bulk washwater recovery system to collect said second washwater after being used to clean said additional production components, including:
• a first screening apparatus to remove large particles of debris from said second washwater and create screened bulk washwater;
• a bulk washwater supply tank to receive said screened bulk washwater from said first screening apparatus;
• a first pH probe operable to sense the pH level of said screened bulk washwater;
• and
• a neutralization system operably coupled to said first pH probe and being in flow communication with said bulk washwater supply tank to deliver a base solution thereto until said pH level of said screened bulk washwater is greater than or approximately 8.0 before being returned to said additional production components;
• and
• a hoodwall washwater recovery system to collect said first washwater after being used to clean said forming hoodwall, including:
• a second screening apparatus to remove large particles of debris from said first washwater and create screened first washwater;
• and
• a hoodwall washwater collection tank to receive said screened first washwater from said second screening apparatus, said screened first washwater being returned through a return line to said forming hoodwall without treating said screened first washwater to change the pH level thereof.

A method of recovering washwater used to clean production components used in the manufacture of fiberglass insulation, said production components including a forming hoodwall in which a low pH binder is used with glass fibers to form a fiberglass blanked and other related production components, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a bulk washwater recovery loop to receive a first washwater used to clean debris from said additional production components and a separate hoodwall washwater recovery loop to receive a second washwater used to clean excess binder and debris from said forming hoodwall;
• screening said first washwater to create a screened first washwater;
• introducing a quantity of base solution from a holding tank of a neutralization system sufficient to raise the pH of said screened first washwater approximately 8 or above when the pH of said screened first washwater is determined by a pH probe to be below approximately 8.0;
• returning said screened first washwater to said additional production components for continued use in cleaning debris therefrom;
• and
• screening said second washwater to create a screened second washwater;
• and
• recycling said screened second washwater to said forming hoodwall for use in cleaning excess binder and debris therefrom without further treatment of said screened second washwater to change the pH level thereof.