STEAM and WET or DRY DEICING
Our mobile deicing services include Wet and Dry Steam, Super-Heated Water, Dry Deicing, and Water Removal (Vacuum or Pumped). Our capability to supply water and the capability to reclaim wastewater and potentially reuse the water adds to the advantage of using KaiserOFS. Determining the advantages and disadvantages of each solution will protect your investments, reduce maintenance, eliminate and/or reduce injuries and accidents and significantly reduce costs. Give us a Call or fill out our Service Request Form (Links here).
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Dry Steam (Saturated Steam) “only has a gaseous phase; water vapour is in the gaseous phase.” One major advantage is that you can “safely clean around control panels, conveyors, directly on walls, within the ducts, etc., because it does not cause any corrosion due to the absence of water droplets.” ( https://www.differencebetween.com/what-is-the-difference-between-wet-dry-and-superheated-steam/ ). Dry Steam utilizes intense heat vapor, not water, to eliminate ice or contamination. Dry Steam is also advantageous for cleaning applications. Regarding boilers and heat exchangers, “The presence of moisture in steam causes deposition, corrosion, and reduction of life expectancy”. Dry Steam“ and “is preferable because it has a better energy exchange capacity and does not cause corrosion.” ( https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/420/dry-steam ). While extremely effective for certain applications, cleaning or deicing with Dry Steam can be slower and increase costs due to generation requirements.
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Wet Steam (Supersaturated Steam) Has the advantage of being fast! It exists when the saturation point exceeds 5%. Wet Steam is more effective when removing ice due to the water volume having a “cutting” effect and an accelerated melting effect. The “cutting effect” can be maximized by increasing the temperature, water volume, and pressure. Using this process, ice can quickly be “cut” away from whatever surface it’s bonded to and can be collected and transported to a location where it can melt naturally and not affect your business. Wet Steam is especially effective when the need to clear drains and remove large volumes of ice and speed is required. It also has a superior cleaning effect and can reduce or eliminate the need for chemicals. Due to the water content, Wet Steam is not recommended when substrates are susceptible to corrosion unless measures are implemented to minimize corrosion.
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Steam deicing is typically used for dethawing of materials. It does not need to be as hot as Dry Steam or have higher volumes of water, as the thermal effect of the steam on the mass being thawed has a longer-lasting effect. Due to a lower water volume, materials will not be oversaturated and become unusable. Steam is also a viable cleaning method with limitless applications.
Ultimately, the best solution for deicing is preventive planning. Preventive applications of chemicals that prevent and minimize ice adhesion, thermal plates or piping, and other measures will help. Contact KAISERofs to help you find the best solution.
