Evaluation of Optimal Cleaning Tools for the Development of a Cleaning Robot for Grease from Ventilation Ducts

In this study, the authors started to develop a robot that can clean grease in ventilation ducts. We determined the required specifications of the robot, constructed a model of the cleaning brush, and developed grease samples. We also conducted experiments to evaluate the performance of the cleaning tools in cleaning grease with different materials, bristle shapes, and rigidity. As a result, it was found that the brush-type could scrape the grease off the cleaning surface and adsorb more grease between the bristles of the brush than the sponge-type. It was also confirmed that the contact area of the brushes affected the cleaning performance. The brush composed of nylon bristles showed the highest cleaning performance at 94%.