IceBlast
IceBlast 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 IceBlast uses compressed air and ice crystals. 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;
- Reliable, consistent operation;
- No damage to the surface
- Superior cleanliness;
- No additional waste;
- Abrasive on demand;
- No dust;
- Environmental friendly;
- Mobile technology;
- Proven technology;
- In-place cleaning of equipment;
- No negative temperature effects;
- Safe and clean to work with;
- and subject to governmental subsidies!
Advantages
Low operating costs
The utility costs are as low as about 3 euro per hour, depending on local electricity rates, local costs for making pressed air, etc. thanks to:
- a minimal use of water
- minimal cost for waste management
- no, or very limited consumption of blast media
Reliable, consistent operation
An ice blast machine is ready for work within seconds of pushing the start button. A standard machine produces Ice at a rate of 80 – 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.
Minimal Waste
Using the ice blasting cleaning process reduces waste as compared to other cleaning processes. Typical water blasting operations use from 250 – 3500 litres per hour. Ice blasting uses not more than 80 – 100 litre per hour. Further, upon impact, the ice particles explode, turning approximately half of its solid mass into vapour and the other half into liquid, thus resulting in even less wastewater to contain contamination, which can easily be filtrated.
Abrasive on demand
To the pressed air stream also abrasive materials can be added like soda or corundum. With a few kilograms per hour of soda even powder coating can be removed as an example. On the other hand, without additions, no damage will be found on glass or sensitive material.
Safe and Clean
- This technology does not use chemicals and creates no dust.
- The airpressure is relatively low: maximum is around 15 bar.
- There is no need for ventilation.
- In fact the technology is an environmental friendly alternative to most traditional methods.
Applications
Automotive
For some typical cleaning and deburring applications IceBlast is used in the automotive industry. Complete systems with robots and sound enclosures can be delivered.
Chemical industry
As an example moulds and presses can be cleaned faster: even warm, in-line cleaning is possible, without dismantling and without damaging the critical mould forms. This results in products with a higher quality and shorter cleaning times.
Aerospace
IceBlast is a proven technology, that is perfect to be used within the aerospace industry. As an example: cleaning of turbine fans gave perfect and fast result.
Machine building
IceBlast offers a superior cleaning result on parts cleaning.
Oil and Gas industries
IceBlast is used successfully for the cleaning of crude oil from tanks, pumps, wagons, etc.
Government and state owned enterprises
Whether IceBlast is used for cleaning large pumps, or for decontaminiation purposes in a nuclear plant, in many applications IceBlast is the best solution.
Shipbuilding and repair
IceBlast is used for cleaning and stripping fromold paint layers. If the coating is hard to remove, additional soda can be added.
Food industry
Cleaning of production machinery, premises, packaging materials: in many cases IceBlast gives good results and is cheap in use.
Pharmacy
When absolute no burrs or bacteria are allowed the water is sterilised with an UV system and additional disinfectant can be applied in one go.