Citation

Pickett M, Carney JF. Transp. Res. Rec. 1981; 833: 30-32.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The portable roadway deicing system presented in this paper sprays a saturated liquid brine solution under high pressure onto the roadway. Because the sodium chloride is already in solution, it begins to melt the ice as soon as it contacts the roadway. Since the solution has a larger surface area in contact with the ice than the sodium choloride grain, the melting action is quicker and more uniform. The solution is applied at a constant flow rate, and the precise amount of sodium chloride applied per lane-mile of roadway can be determined and controlled. The Connecticut Department of Transportation uses 50-80 percent less sodium chloride per lane-mile with this system as compared with conventional methods. The hydrodynamic system presented here is designed so that it can be removed easily from the truck, which allows the vehicle to be used for other duties.