WO2017032916A1 - Method and apparatus aggregate for deicing a surface and/or removal of snow therefrom - Google Patents

Method and apparatus aggregate for deicing a surface and/or removal of snow therefrom Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2017032916A1
WO2017032916A1 PCT/FI2015/050545 FI2015050545W WO2017032916A1 WO 2017032916 A1 WO2017032916 A1 WO 2017032916A1 FI 2015050545 W FI2015050545 W FI 2015050545W WO 2017032916 A1 WO2017032916 A1 WO 2017032916A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
snow
ice
crystalline substance
impact
liquid
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/FI2015/050545
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Reijo Varis
Original Assignee
Reijo Varis
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
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Publication date
Application filed by Reijo Varis filed Critical Reijo Varis
Priority to PCT/FI2015/050545 priority Critical patent/WO2017032916A1/en
Publication of WO2017032916A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017032916A1/en

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H10/00—Improving gripping of ice-bound or other slippery traffic surfaces, e.g. using gritting or thawing materials ; Roadside storage of gritting or solid thawing materials; Permanently installed devices for applying gritting or thawing materials; Mobile apparatus specially adapted for treating wintry roads by applying liquid, semi-liquid or granular materials
    • E01H10/007—Mobile apparatus specially adapted for preparing or applying liquid or semi-liquid thawing material or spreading granular material on wintry roads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64F—GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B64F5/00—Designing, manufacturing, assembling, cleaning, maintaining or repairing aircraft, not otherwise provided for; Handling, transporting, testing or inspecting aircraft components, not otherwise provided for
    • B64F5/20—Ground installations for de-icing aircraft
    • B64F5/23—Ground installations for de-icing aircraft by liquid application; Spraying installations therefor, e.g. fitted on vehicles
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
    • E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
    • E01H8/00—Removing undesirable matter from the permanent way of railways; Removing undesirable matter from tramway rails
    • E01H8/10—Removing undesirable matter from rails, flange grooves, or the like railway parts, e.g. removing ice from contact rails, removing mud from flange grooves
    • E01H8/105—Pneumatically or hydraulically loosening, removing or dislodging undesirable matter, e.g. removing by blowing, flushing, suction; Application of melting liquids; Loosening or removing by means of heat, e.g. cleaning by plasma torches, drying by burners

Definitions

  • One object of this invention is a method for deicing a surface and/or removal of snow therefrom.
  • a further object of this invention is an apparatus aggregate for deicing a surface and/or removal of snow therefrom.
  • Deicing salt is used in the winter for melting the ice layer and snow from the surface of a road.
  • the drawbacks of using salt include corrosion i.e. rusting of cars, environment damages (inter alia contamination of groundwaters) and low visibility when the salt slush or sludge splashes onto the windscreen.
  • a deicing salt often used in the winter is sodium chloride (NaCI).
  • NaCI sodium chloride
  • Sodium chloride is distributed on the road either in granular form or as a ready aqueous solution.
  • the freezing point of a solution formed by salt and water is at its lowest about 10 °C lower than the freezing point of pure water.
  • potassium formiate KCOOH
  • sodium chloride has a contaminating effect on groundwaters. For this reason one has striven to reduce the use of sodium chloride among others by spreading it as an aqueous solution whereupon less of it is needed.
  • potassium formiate KCOOH
  • potassium formiate decomposes into carbon dioxide and water prior to finding its way to groundwater.
  • Potassium formiate has for a long time been used for deicing and removal of skidding at airports, but a broader use thereof also for road salting is slowed down by its price which is multifold to that of sodium chloride.
  • Potassium formiate is used for deicing instead of sodium chloride mainly in regions of groundwater. Potassium formiate is to some extent corrosive, but it corrodes metal and concrete less than sodium chloride and the other chlorides. When salting roads with potassium formiate it is usually used in the form of an aqueous solution. E.g. the freezing point of a 50% aqueous solution of potassium formiate is -58 °C and it may therefore be used in pinching frost.
  • the solutions of the prior art are not capable of deicing and/or removing snow entirely, there is always slush or sludge remaining on the surface to at least some extent.
  • This invention is based on the surprising discovery that by bringing at least one crystalline substance to impact with ice and/or snow (e.g. covering a road's surface) with sufficient a force the ice and/or snow breaks up mechanically and finally evaporates entirely leaving the surface completely dry.
  • the method according to invention is characterized by that at least one crystalline substance is brought to impact with the ice and/or snow with such a force that said at least one crystalline substance upon impact with the ice and/or snow breaks up the ice and/or snow mechanically and heat energy being released in the impact vaporises at least the broken up ice and/or snow into water vapor into the air.
  • the size of the crystals of said at least one crystalline substance is not more than 1000 ⁇ .
  • Said at least one crystalline substance is preferably selected from a group that includes inorganic salts such as e.g. magnesium chloride (MgCI 2 ), sodium chloride (NaCI), calcium chloride (KCI), soda i.e. sodium carbonate (Na 2 C0 3 ) and magnesium carbonate (MgC0 3 ), organic salts such as e.g. potassium formiate (KCOOH) and crystalline quaternary ammonium compounds such as e.g. betaine (trimethylglycine i.e. C 5 HiiN0 2 ).
  • inorganic salts such as e.g. magnesium chloride (MgCI 2 ), sodium chloride (NaCI), calcium chloride (KCI), soda i.e. sodium carbonate (Na 2 C0 3 ) and magnesium carbonate (MgC0 3 )
  • organic salts such as e.g. potassium formiate (
  • a power unit which e.g. may be a compressor, a fan or a pump.
  • Hydraulic pressure can be e.g. generated by a combination of a pressure washer pump known per se and a nozzle known per se.
  • the shape of the nozzle is such that it will generate vacuum in a branch line that is connected to the sack containing crystalline substance.
  • the ice and/or snow is together with at least one crystalline substance brought a liquid that makes the melting of the ice and/or snow more effective, which liquid prevents splashing of the ice and/or snow being broken up and of said at least one crystalline substance, and remains to have an effect for a longer time to prevent formation of new ice.
  • the bringing of said crystalline substance to impact is performed in such a way that crystalline substance is brought to the ice and/or snow as a dry crystal jet in such a way that the liquid making the melting more effective is brought to the ice and/or snow as a liquid curtain enveloping the dry crystal jet, which prevents splashing of the crystals, ice and/or snow.
  • the bringing of said crystalline substance to impact is performed in such a way that crystalline substance is brought to the ice and/or snow together with the liquid that makes the melting more effective in such a way that a sufficiently large part of the crystals does not have time to dissolve into said liquid.
  • the liquid making the melting of the ice and/or snow more effective is selected from a group which includes aqueous solutions of inorganic salts, aqueous solutions of organic salts such as e.g. an aqueous solution of potassium formiate, and aqueous solutions of quaternary ammonium compounds such as e.g. an aqueous solution of betaine (trimethylglycine i.e. C 5 HnN0 2 ).
  • the liquid making the melting of the ice and/or snow more effective may itself be a liquid substance (a liquid compound) that as such boosts melting.
  • organic salts it has been surprisingly discovered that when they are used as a liquid making the melting of the ice and/or snow more effective together with sodium, calcium or magnesium formiate or with sodium, calcium or magnesium chloride, the melting effect will multiply.
  • acetate- or formiate-based salt solutions or aqueous solution of betaine as the liquid making melting more effective the melting will surprisingly become up to fivefold more effective.
  • this functions also with other aqueous solutions of organic salts, provided that their melting points are -8 °C or lower.
  • the ice and/or snow may be impacted with substances, which upon coming into contact with each other generate heat, wherein the melting of the slush or sludge is made even more effective.
  • substances shall be kept separately in their own containers prior to bringing to impact with ice and/or snow.
  • Such substances are e.g. soda and formic acid, which upon reacting with each other release heat. Soda may in crystalline form be brought to impact ice and/or snow at the same time as formic acid simultaneously with crystalline soda are brought to the ice and/or snow in liquid form, either as undiluted or as dissolved in water.
  • a further object of the invention is the method according to the invention for deicing of and/or removal of snow from routes for pedestrians and/or vehicles, from rails and/or switches of rail traffic, from runways for and/or wings of airplanes.
  • the apparatus aggregate according to the invention is characterised in, that the apparatus aggregate includes:
  • At least one power unit for delivering the at least one crystalline substance from the at least one crystal container into said at least one nozzle and out therefrom for bringing the at least one crystalline substance to impact with ice and/or snow with such a force that said at least one crystalline substance upon impact with the ice and/or snow breaks up the ice and/or snow mechanically and heat energy being released in the impact vaporises at least the broken up ice and/or snow into water vapor into the air.
  • the power unit to be used in the apparatus aggregate according to the invention is preferably a compressor, a fan or a pump, wherein the delivering of at least one crystalline substance from said at least one crystal container into said at least one nozzle and out therefrom for bringing the at least one crystalline substance to impact with ice and/or snow is accomplished with the aid of air pressure or hydraulic pressure.
  • the apparatus aggregate further includes at least one liquid container for a liquid that makes the melting of ice and/or snow more effective, and that between said at least one liquid container and at least one nozzle is arranged a connection in such a way that the liquid making the melting more effective may be delivered from said at least one liquid container into said at least one nozzle, and out of said at least one nozzle together with at least one crystalline substance onto the ice and/or snow, wherein the liquid making the melting more effective prevents splashing of the ice and/or snow being broken up and of said at least one crystalline substance.
  • figure 1 as a principle sketch is presented an embodiment of the apparatus aggregate of the invention that applies the method according to the invention, by which deicing and/or removal of snow is accomplished by using a crystalline substance and a liquid that makes the melting more effective
  • figure 2 is presented a cross-section of a combined jet of a crystalline
  • the apparatus of figure 1 is an air-blasting apparatus 6 which includes a compressor 3 as an air-pressure producing power unit, a liquid container 2 for a liquid making the melting more effective and a crystal container 1 for a crystalline substance to be blown.
  • the liquid container 2 contains an aqueous solution of potassium formiate (KCOOH) as the liquid making the melting more effective and the crystal container 1 contains crystalline soda i.e. sodium carbonate (Na 2 C0 3 ).
  • the nozzle 4 comprises a ring nozzle, having at its center a mouth, wherefrom crystalline substance, i.e. in this case soda 7, is delivered by a stream of pressurized air, and a ring-shaped mouth surrounding it, from which mouth the liquid that makes the melting more effective, i.e. in this case an aqueous solution of potassium formiate, is delivered as a liquid curtain 8 surrounding the soda jet 7.
  • no pressure is divided form the compressor 3 to the liquid container 2, instead the liquid making the melting more effective and being contained in the liquid container 2 is sucked by the aid of the ejector effect into the nozzle 4, where the liquid making the melting more effective is mixed into the crystalline substance into one jet, which is directed to ice and/or snow.
  • the blowing effect of the blasting apparatus is e.g. 2-7 bars and the volume flow is preferably 5 m 3 /min.
  • the soda container is pressurized to a pressure of 7 bars.
  • the blasting apparatus onto the ice is simultaneously blown crystalline soda, which mechanically breaks up the ice, and an aqueous solution of potassium formiate, which makes the melting of the ice more effective and prevents splashing of the crystalline substance and remains to have an effect for a longer time to prevent formation of new ice.
  • the crystal size of the blown crystalline soda is smaller than 1000 ⁇ .
  • figure 2 is presented a cross-section of the combined jet of the crystalline substance and the liquid making the melting more effective when the nozzle 4 presented in figure 1 is a ring nozzle.
  • the aqueous solution of potassium formiate forms a ring-like liquid curtain 8 which protects from splashes of the central crystalline soda jet 7.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Materials Applied To Surfaces To Minimize Adherence Of Mist Or Water (AREA)

Abstract

The objection of the invention is a method for deicing and/or removal of snow from a surface. In the method at least one crystalline substance is brought to impact with the ice and/or snow with such force that said at least one crystalline substance upon impact with the ice and/or snow breaks up the ice and/or snow mechanically and heat energy being released in the impact vaporises at least the broken up ice and/or snow into the air into water vapor. The objection of the invention is also an apparatus aggregate for deicing and/or removal of snow from a surface. The apparatus aggregate (6) includes: - at least one crystal container (1) for at least one crystalline substance - at least one nozzle (4) connected to said at least one crystal container (1) - at least one power unit (3) for bringing the at least one crystalline substance from the at least one crystal container (1) into said at least one nozzle (4) and out therefrom for bringing the at least one crystalline substance to impact with ice and/or snow with such force that said at least one crystalline substance upon impact with the ice and/or snow breaks up the ice and/or snow mechanically and heat energy being released in the impact vaporises at least the broken up ice and/or snow into the air into water vapor.

Description

Method and Apparatus Aggregate for Deicing a Surface and/or Removal of Snow therefrom
Object of the Invention
One object of this invention is a method for deicing a surface and/or removal of snow therefrom.
A further object of this invention is an apparatus aggregate for deicing a surface and/or removal of snow therefrom.
Prior Art
Deicing salt is used in the winter for melting the ice layer and snow from the surface of a road. The drawbacks of using salt include corrosion i.e. rusting of cars, environment damages (inter alia contamination of groundwaters) and low visibility when the salt slush or sludge splashes onto the windscreen.
A deicing salt often used in the winter is sodium chloride (NaCI). Sodium chloride is distributed on the road either in granular form or as a ready aqueous solution. The freezing point of a solution formed by salt and water is at its lowest about 10 °C lower than the freezing point of pure water.
Sodium chloride has a contaminating effect on groundwaters. For this reason one has striven to reduce the use of sodium chloride among others by spreading it as an aqueous solution whereupon less of it is needed. Studies have shown potassium formiate (KCOOH) to be a notably more environmentally friendly alternative than sodium chloride for salting roads, since according to recent studies potassium formiate decomposes into carbon dioxide and water prior to finding its way to groundwater. Potassium formiate has for a long time been used for deicing and removal of skidding at airports, but a broader use thereof also for road salting is slowed down by its price which is multifold to that of sodium chloride. Potassium formiate is used for deicing instead of sodium chloride mainly in regions of groundwater. Potassium formiate is to some extent corrosive, but it corrodes metal and concrete less than sodium chloride and the other chlorides. When salting roads with potassium formiate it is usually used in the form of an aqueous solution. E.g. the freezing point of a 50% aqueous solution of potassium formiate is -58 °C and it may therefore be used in pinching frost.
The afore mentioned known solutions do melt ice and snow, but usually there will still remain some sludge or slush on the road surface or street surface, which as such or as re-frozen may cause accidents resulting from slipperiness. There is a need for a method of deicing and removal of snow that would leave the surface totally dry.
Description of the Invention
As presented above, the solutions of the prior art are not capable of deicing and/or removing snow entirely, there is always slush or sludge remaining on the surface to at least some extent. This invention is based on the surprising discovery that by bringing at least one crystalline substance to impact with ice and/or snow (e.g. covering a road's surface) with sufficient a force the ice and/or snow breaks up mechanically and finally evaporates entirely leaving the surface completely dry.
The method according to invention is characterized by that at least one crystalline substance is brought to impact with the ice and/or snow with such a force that said at least one crystalline substance upon impact with the ice and/or snow breaks up the ice and/or snow mechanically and heat energy being released in the impact vaporises at least the broken up ice and/or snow into water vapor into the air.
In one preferable embodiment of the method according to the invention the size of the crystals of said at least one crystalline substance is not more than 1000 μΐη. Said at least one crystalline substance is preferably selected from a group that includes inorganic salts such as e.g. magnesium chloride (MgCI2), sodium chloride (NaCI), calcium chloride (KCI), soda i.e. sodium carbonate (Na2C03) and magnesium carbonate (MgC03), organic salts such as e.g. potassium formiate (KCOOH) and crystalline quaternary ammonium compounds such as e.g. betaine (trimethylglycine i.e. C5HiiN02). In a particular embodiment is used only one crystalline substance, e.g. crystalline soda. The bringing of said crystalline substance to impact is preferably performed with air pressure, but it may alternatively also be performed using hydraulic pressure. For producing air pressure or hydraulic pressure is used a power unit, which e.g. may be a compressor, a fan or a pump.
In the aforementioned alternative preferable embodiment wherein the crystalline substance is brought to impact with the ice with hydraulic pressure the crystalline substance is kept in a hermetically sealed sack wherefrom the crystalline substance together with a liquid making the melting more effective is sucked out of a nozzle by vacuum produced by ejector effect. Hydraulic pressure can be e.g. generated by a combination of a pressure washer pump known per se and a nozzle known per se. The shape of the nozzle is such that it will generate vacuum in a branch line that is connected to the sack containing crystalline substance. In a particularly preferable embodiment of the method according to the invention to the ice and/or snow is together with at least one crystalline substance brought a liquid that makes the melting of the ice and/or snow more effective, which liquid prevents splashing of the ice and/or snow being broken up and of said at least one crystalline substance, and remains to have an effect for a longer time to prevent formation of new ice. In that case it is preferable that the bringing of said crystalline substance to impact is performed in such a way that crystalline substance is brought to the ice and/or snow as a dry crystal jet in such a way that the liquid making the melting more effective is brought to the ice and/or snow as a liquid curtain enveloping the dry crystal jet, which prevents splashing of the crystals, ice and/or snow. Alternatively, the bringing of said crystalline substance to impact is performed in such a way that crystalline substance is brought to the ice and/or snow together with the liquid that makes the melting more effective in such a way that a sufficiently large part of the crystals does not have time to dissolve into said liquid. The liquid making the melting of the ice and/or snow more effective is selected from a group which includes aqueous solutions of inorganic salts, aqueous solutions of organic salts such as e.g. an aqueous solution of potassium formiate, and aqueous solutions of quaternary ammonium compounds such as e.g. an aqueous solution of betaine (trimethylglycine i.e. C5HnN02). The liquid making the melting of the ice and/or snow more effective may itself be a liquid substance (a liquid compound) that as such boosts melting.
Especially with respect of organic salts it has been surprisingly discovered that when they are used as a liquid making the melting of the ice and/or snow more effective together with sodium, calcium or magnesium formiate or with sodium, calcium or magnesium chloride, the melting effect will multiply. E.g. when using acetate- or formiate-based salt solutions or aqueous solution of betaine as the liquid making melting more effective the melting will surprisingly become up to fivefold more effective. We believe that this functions also with other aqueous solutions of organic salts, provided that their melting points are -8 °C or lower. Without binding ourselves to any theory, we believe, that aforementioned surprising increased melting of ice and/or snow is based on a synergistic interaction of the aqueous solution of organic salt and sodium, calcium or magnesium formiate, or sodium, calcium or magnesium chloride. We believe that this synergistic interaction is based on that that the organic salt solution melts water from the ice and/or snow, wherein this melted water activates present hygroscopic solid matter aka crystalline substance that accordingly can be sodium, calcium or magnesium formiate, sodium, calcium or magnesium chloride or mixtures thereof. This way the hygroscopic crystalline substance makes melting of ice and/or snow more effective.
Depending on the application, the ice and/or snow may be impacted with substances, which upon coming into contact with each other generate heat, wherein the melting of the slush or sludge is made even more effective. Such substances shall be kept separately in their own containers prior to bringing to impact with ice and/or snow. Examples of such substances are e.g. soda and formic acid, which upon reacting with each other release heat. Soda may in crystalline form be brought to impact ice and/or snow at the same time as formic acid simultaneously with crystalline soda are brought to the ice and/or snow in liquid form, either as undiluted or as dissolved in water.
A further object of the invention is the method according to the invention for deicing of and/or removal of snow from routes for pedestrians and/or vehicles, from rails and/or switches of rail traffic, from runways for and/or wings of airplanes. The apparatus aggregate according to the invention is characterised in, that the apparatus aggregate includes:
- at least one crystal container for at least one crystalline substance
- at least one nozzle connected to said at least one crystal container
- at least one power unit for delivering the at least one crystalline substance from the at least one crystal container into said at least one nozzle and out therefrom for bringing the at least one crystalline substance to impact with ice and/or snow with such a force that said at least one crystalline substance upon impact with the ice and/or snow breaks up the ice and/or snow mechanically and heat energy being released in the impact vaporises at least the broken up ice and/or snow into water vapor into the air.
The power unit to be used in the apparatus aggregate according to the invention is preferably a compressor, a fan or a pump, wherein the delivering of at least one crystalline substance from said at least one crystal container into said at least one nozzle and out therefrom for bringing the at least one crystalline substance to impact with ice and/or snow is accomplished with the aid of air pressure or hydraulic pressure. In a preferable embodiment of the apparatus aggregate according to the invention the apparatus aggregate further includes at least one liquid container for a liquid that makes the melting of ice and/or snow more effective, and that between said at least one liquid container and at least one nozzle is arranged a connection in such a way that the liquid making the melting more effective may be delivered from said at least one liquid container into said at least one nozzle, and out of said at least one nozzle together with at least one crystalline substance onto the ice and/or snow, wherein the liquid making the melting more effective prevents splashing of the ice and/or snow being broken up and of said at least one crystalline substance. Without binding ourselves to any theory, we believe, that our surprising discovery that by bringing crystalline material to impact with ice and/or snow (e.g. covering a road's surface) with a sufficient force the ice and/or snow breaks up mechanically and evaporates finally entirely leaving the surface completely dry, is at least partly based on that that the energy comprised in the crystal is released upon the impact when the crystal as a result of the impact is disintegrated into smaller particles.
Detailed Description of the Invention
The invention is in the following described in more detail by way of examples to the attached drawings, wherein: in figure 1 as a principle sketch is presented an embodiment of the apparatus aggregate of the invention that applies the method according to the invention, by which deicing and/or removal of snow is accomplished by using a crystalline substance and a liquid that makes the melting more effective, and in figure 2 is presented a cross-section of a combined jet of a crystalline
substance and a liquid making melting more effective than what is accomplishable with the apparatus aggregate presented in figure 1.
The apparatus of figure 1 is an air-blasting apparatus 6 which includes a compressor 3 as an air-pressure producing power unit, a liquid container 2 for a liquid making the melting more effective and a crystal container 1 for a crystalline substance to be blown. In this example the liquid container 2 contains an aqueous solution of potassium formiate (KCOOH) as the liquid making the melting more effective and the crystal container 1 contains crystalline soda i.e. sodium carbonate (Na2C03).
In the compressor 3 or in the conjunction thereof resides a T-piece 5, which divides the pressure produced by the compressor 3 to the crystal container 1 containing soda and to the nozzle 4. A small part of the pressure produced by the compressor 3 is also divided directly to the liquid container 2 containing the aqueous solution of potassium formiate, wherein this small partial pressure brings aqueous solution of potassium formiate from the liquid container into the nozzle 4. In this embodiment the nozzle 4 comprises a ring nozzle, having at its center a mouth, wherefrom crystalline substance, i.e. in this case soda 7, is delivered by a stream of pressurized air, and a ring-shaped mouth surrounding it, from which mouth the liquid that makes the melting more effective, i.e. in this case an aqueous solution of potassium formiate, is delivered as a liquid curtain 8 surrounding the soda jet 7.
Alternatively, no pressure is divided form the compressor 3 to the liquid container 2, instead the liquid making the melting more effective and being contained in the liquid container 2 is sucked by the aid of the ejector effect into the nozzle 4, where the liquid making the melting more effective is mixed into the crystalline substance into one jet, which is directed to ice and/or snow. The blowing effect of the blasting apparatus is e.g. 2-7 bars and the volume flow is preferably 5 m3/min. The soda container is pressurized to a pressure of 7 bars. With this blasting apparatus onto the ice is simultaneously blown crystalline soda, which mechanically breaks up the ice, and an aqueous solution of potassium formiate, which makes the melting of the ice more effective and prevents splashing of the crystalline substance and remains to have an effect for a longer time to prevent formation of new ice. The crystal size of the blown crystalline soda is smaller than 1000 μηι.
In figure 2 is presented a cross-section of the combined jet of the crystalline substance and the liquid making the melting more effective when the nozzle 4 presented in figure 1 is a ring nozzle. In that case the aqueous solution of potassium formiate forms a ring-like liquid curtain 8 which protects from splashes of the central crystalline soda jet 7.

Claims

Claims
1. A method for deicing a surface and/or removal of snow therefrom,
characterised in, that at least one crystalline substance is brought to impact with the ice and/or snow with such a force that said at least one crystalline substance upon impact with the ice and/or snow breaks up the ice and/or snow mechanically and heat energy being released in the impact vaporises at least the broken up ice and/or snow into water vapor into the air.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in, that the size of the crystals of said at least one crystalline substance is not more than 1000 μΐη.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in, that said at least one crystalline substance is selected from a group that includes inorganic salts such as e.g. magnesium chloride (MgCI2), sodium chloride (NaCI), calcium chloride (KCI), soda i.e. sodium carbonate (Na2C03) and magnesium carbonate (MgC03), organic salts such as e.g. potassium formiate (KCOOH) and crystalline quaternary ammonium compounds such as e.g. betaine (trimethylglycine i.e. C5HnN02).
4. A method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterised in, that only one crystalline substance is used.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterised in, that the bringing of said crystalline substance to impact is performed with air pressure.
6. A method according to any one of claims 1-5, characterised in, that together with at least one crystalline substance is brought to the ice and/or snow a liquid that makes the melting of the ice and/or snow more effective, which liquid prevents splashing of the ice and/or snow being broken up and of said at least one crystalline substance, and remains to have an effect for a longer time to prevent formation of new ice.
7. A method according to claim 6, characterised in, that the bringing of said crystalline substance to impact is performed in such a manner that the crystalline substance is brought to the ice and/or snow as a dry crystal jet in such a way that the liquid making the melting more effective is brought to the ice and/or snow as a liquid curtain enveloping the dry crystal jet, preventing splashing of the crystals, ice and/or snow.
8. Method according to claim 6, characterised in, that the bringing of said crystalline substance to impact is performed in such a way that the crystalline substance is brought to the ice and/or snow together with the liquid that makes the melting more effective in such a way that a sufficiently large part of the crystals does not have time to dissolve into said liquid.
9. A method according to any one of claims 6-8, characterised in, that the liquid making the melting of the ice and/or snow more effective is selected from a group which includes aqueous solutions of inorganic salts, aqueous solutions of organic salts such as e.g. an aqueous solution of potassium formiate, and aqueous solutions of quaternary ammonium compounds such as e.g. an aqueous solution of betaine (trimethylglycine i.e. C5HnN02).
10. A use of the method according to any one of claims 1-9 for deicing and/or removal of snow from routes of pedestrians and/or vehicles, from rails and/or switches of rail traffic, from runways for and/or wings of airplanes.
11. An apparatus aggregate for deicing a surface and/or removal of snow
therefrom, characterised in, that the apparatus aggregate (6) includes:
- at least one crystal container (1) for at least one crystalline substance
- at least one nozzle (4) connected to said at least one crystal container (1)
- at least one power unit (3) for bringing the at least one crystalline substance from the at least one crystal container (1) into said at least one nozzle (4) and out therefrom for bringing the at least one crystalline substance to impact with ice and/or snow with such a force that said at least one crystalline substance upon impact with the ice and/or snow breaks up the ice and/or snow mechanically and heat energy being released in the impact vaporises at least the broken up ice and/or snow into water vapor into the air.
12. An apparatus aggregate (6) according to claim 11, characterised in, that it further includes at least one liquid container (2) for a liquid that makes the melting of ice and/or snow more effective, and that between said at least one liquid container (2) and at least one nozzle (4) is arranged a connection in such a way that the liquid making the melting more effective may be brought from said at least one liquid container (2) into said at least one nozzle (4), and out of said at least one nozzle together with at least one crystalline substance onto the ice and/or snow, wherein the liquid making the melting more effective prevents splashing of the ice and/or snow being broken up and of said at least one crystalline substance, and remains to have an effect for a longer time to prevent formation of new ice.
PCT/FI2015/050545 2015-08-25 2015-08-25 Method and apparatus aggregate for deicing a surface and/or removal of snow therefrom WO2017032916A1 (en)

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Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10246589B2 (en) * 2016-06-20 2019-04-02 Iterchimica S.R.L. Anti-icing additive composition for bituminous conglomerates
CN111335247A (en) * 2020-03-12 2020-06-26 陈彩玉 Automatic fog dispersing device for low-temperature environment for geothermal hot spring

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002079578A2 (en) * 2001-03-29 2002-10-10 Barnett Wade C Salt shooter
JP2008308833A (en) * 2007-06-12 2008-12-25 Nippon Expressway Research Institute Co Ltd Method and equipment for removing snow ice on road

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002079578A2 (en) * 2001-03-29 2002-10-10 Barnett Wade C Salt shooter
JP2008308833A (en) * 2007-06-12 2008-12-25 Nippon Expressway Research Institute Co Ltd Method and equipment for removing snow ice on road

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10246589B2 (en) * 2016-06-20 2019-04-02 Iterchimica S.R.L. Anti-icing additive composition for bituminous conglomerates
CN111335247A (en) * 2020-03-12 2020-06-26 陈彩玉 Automatic fog dispersing device for low-temperature environment for geothermal hot spring
CN111335247B (en) * 2020-03-12 2021-07-13 陈彩玉 Automatic fog dispersing device for low-temperature environment for geothermal hot spring

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