TriMet is now using electrostatic sprayers during the nighttime cleanings of trains.
These disinfecting tools look and operate like traditional backpack sprayers, but there’s a key difference: The cleaning solution receives a charge—a jolt of electricity—that helps it coat surfaces more thoroughly. The electrostatic sprayers save hours of work each night. No wiping is required, allowing staff to move among trains faster and freeing them to address other tasks meant to diminish the spread of COVID-19. As a result, more is being done to clean and prepare trains for morning service as the pandemic continues.
How they work: opposites attract
Electrostatic sprayers are not new technology, having been used in some industries for more than 60 years. Inside each unit, an electrode emits a charge to the disinfectant as it leaves the nozzle. Once positively charged, the droplets are attracted to negatively charged surfaces like seats, poles, walls and other objects people often touch. The droplets are also more evenly dispersed due to their positive charge.
Because no wiping is necessary, use of the electrostatic sprayers saves more than 12 hours of staff time each night combined for TriMet’s two rail facilities. It also reduces the amount of cleaning solution used. Over-application is reduced because the charged particles will seek out an exposed surface area instead of sticking to each other. TriMet uses a cleaning solution called Virustat, a common, nonacid disinfectant.
Service workers responsible for cleaning and preparing trains for morning service now have more time to perform other essential duties meant to keep riders and employees safe. This includes restocking mask dispensers, refilling hand sanitizer dispensers and ensuring that operators have enough masks to restock throughout the day should the dispensers run out.
