Why IceBlast?
Ice blasting technology has advantages over other cleaning processes
important to its markets, including:
· Low operating costs;
· Reliable, consistent operation;
· Superior cleanliness;
· Minimal waste;
· Abrasive on demand; and
· Does not generate dust.
Ice blast technology has established a proven and reliable operating history both in Europe, Japan and the US. Its inherently simple process mechanism, coupled with its industrial proven components, makes it a very reliable industrial machine despite being a new technology. Its low operating cost, further enhanced by waste minimization, makes it ideal for large scale use in industrial cleaning. With automation, ice blast can be used for cost effective parts cleanings in the disassembly and recycling sector. Finally, its unique displace, scrub and flush cleaning mechanism makes it an environmentally friendly cleaning method that will stand the test of time and legislation.
Ice
blasting is a simple process that uses compressed air and ice crystals. Shot
through a hose and directed with a nozzle, a fine, powerful mist is blasted
onto a surface, acting like a chisel to remove debris. Ice blasting is a
non-abrasive cleaning process that uses ordinary tap water, compressed air
and electricity to create an environmentally friendly, cost effective method
to address a variety of cleaning needs.
Low operating costs
Due to the minimal use of water, minimal costs for waste management, no
requirement to buy ice media, the utility costs are as low as about 3 euro
per hour, depending on local electricity rates, local costs for making
pressed air, etc.
Reliable, consistent operation
An ice blast machine is ready for work within seconds of pushing the start
button. Ice particles are produced continuously at a rate of 90 – 100 kg
per hour. Using a two hose system, ice particles are transported through a
low pressure hose to the blasting nozzle where a second higher pressure hose
delivers up to 15 bar pressure to accelerate the ice particles towards the
target surface. The solid ice particles displace surface contaminants
through the energy from the impact and through the lateral deformation of
the ice particles.
Superior cleaning
At the heart of the ice blast technology is the scrub and flush cleaning
that takes place when the ice crystals impact onto a surface. Ice crystals
deform to scrub on impact, and after impact melt into water to flush away
debris. Thus, ice blasting has a scrubbing component that water blasting
lacks and it uses significantly less water than water blasting, which
results in less waste to be contained. Ice blasting creates no dust and is
accordingly more gentle and cleaner than sand blasting.
Minimal Waste
Using the ice blasting cleaning process reduces waste as compared to other
cleaning processes. Typical water blasting operations use from 300 – 3000
liters per hour. Ice blasting uses not more than 90 – 100 liter per hour.
Further, upon impact, the ice particles explode, turning approximately half
of its solid mass into vapor and the other half into liquid, thus resulting
in even less wastewater to contain contamination, which by the way can
easily be filtrated.
Abrasive
on demand
To the pressed air stream also abrasive
materials can be added like soda, sand up to corundum. This makes IceBlast
competitive towards other methods like sand blasting, steel shot, walnut
shells, and corn.