Method and apparatus for melting snow and ice

Abstract

Disclosed in this invention is a method and device for de-icing, snow melting and thawing frozen ground. The invention is based on warm moisture-laden air that can be blown over the surface to be iced or thawed or it can be introduced into an enclosed area where de-icing, ground thawing or snow melting is desired. The device consists of three components: a hot water or a steam boiler with an associated pump; a plenum for heating and humidifying air; and a delivery unit or head that brings the moisture-laden air into contact with the surface to be de-iced or thawed. In one embodiment the boiler is replaced by a direct fired burner. The delivery unit may be an air blanket with multiple perforations attached to an air duct or an inverted saucer-like delivery head likewise attached to an air duct, coming from the plenum or it can be simply an enclosed space in which is located the object to be de-iced or thawed and into which the hot moisture-laden air is conducted.

1 . A method of de-icing, melting and thawing a surface, the method comprising directing warm moisture-laden air to the surface.  
   
   
       2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein prior to the step of directing, the method further comprises the step of producing said warm moisture-laden air.  
   
   
       3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein prior to the step of directing, the method further comprises the step of providing heat and moisture to air, thereby producing said warm moisture-laden air.  
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said warm moisture-laden air is produced by conducting air through a warm spray of aqueous liquid thereby adding heat and moisture thereto.  
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said warm moisture-laden air is produced by further conducting said air through one or more heated coils.  
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said warm moisture-laden air is produced by conducting air through one or more wetted heated coils thereby adding heat and moisture to said air.  
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said warm moisture-laden air is produced by conducting air through a spray of steam and through one or more heated coils thereby adding heat and moisture to said air.  
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said warm moisture-laden air is produced by conducting air through a flame heated source thereby heating said air, and by passing said heated air through a spray of aqueous liquid thereby cooling and adding moisture to said heated air.  
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said warm moisture-laden air is produced by heating an aqueous liquid, spraying said heated liquid within a plenum and forcing air into said plenum through said heated liquid spray.  
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said warm moisture-laden air is produced by heating an aqueous liquid until it becomes vaporized, directing a first portion of said vapor through one or more heating coils within a plenum thereby heating said one or more coils, directing a second portion of said vapor through one or more spray nozzles within said plenum thereby providing a steam spray therein, and forcing air into said plenum through said vapor spray and said heating coils.  
   
   
       11 . The method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said aqueous liquid comprises ethylene glycol.  
   
   
       12 . The method as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said aqueous liquid comprises propylene glycol.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus for de-icing, melting and thawing a surface, the apparatus comprising: 
 a plenum;    an aqueous fluid supply for input of aqueous fluid within said plenum;    a heat source for heating said aqueous fluid;    a forced air inlet configured for input of forced air into said plenum through said heated aqueous fluid to produce warm moisture-laden air; and    a delivery device fluidly coupled to an outlet of said plenum and configured to direct said warm moisture-laden air to the surface.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising one or more heated coils located within said plenum and disposed so to add heat to said warm moisture-laden air.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said heated aqueous fluid is provided from said heat source to said plenum via said aqueous fluid supply.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said fluid supply comprises one or more nozzles configured to introduce a spray of said heated aqueous fluid into said plenum, said forced air inlet configured for input of forced air through said spray.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said heat source comprises a boiler fluidly coupled to said one or more nozzles.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said heat source further comprises a heat exchanger.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said plenum comprises a reservoir adapted to receive excess aqueous fluid and return said excess liquid to said heat source.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said aqueous fluid comprises an aqueous liquid, and wherein said heat source comprises one or more heated coils located within said plenum and operatively disposed so to be wetted by said fluid supply, said forced air inlet configured for input of forced air through said one or more wetted heated coils to produce said warm moisture-laden air.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said aqueous fluid comprises steam.  
   
   
       22 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said aqueous fluid comprises ethylene glycol.  
   
   
       23 . The method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said aqueous fluid comprises propylene glycol.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said delivery device comprises a delivery duct operatively coupled to a delivery head, said delivery head comprising an inflatable member with a lower surface comprising a plurality of apertures to deliver said warm moisture-laden air to the surface.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said delivery device comprises a delivery duct operatively coupled to a delivery head, said delivery head comprising one or more flexible tubes each comprising a plurality of apertures at a lower surface thereof to deliver said warm moisture-laden air to the surface.  
   
   
       26 . An apparatus for de-icing, melting and thawing a surface, the apparatus comprising: 
 a plenum;    a flame heated source;    one or more nozzles configured to introduce a spray of aqueous liquid into said plenum;    a forced air inlet configured for input of forced air into said plenum through said flame heated source and said spray of aqueous liquid, thereby producing warm moisture-laden air; and    a delivery device fluidly coupled to an outlet of said plenum and configured to direct said warm moisture-laden air to the surface.