Method and apparatus for on-site mixing of liquid deicer

Abstract

An apparatus and method for preparing and dispensing a liquid deicer. The apparatus and method allow deicer ingredients or precursors to be combined in an exothermic reaction to produce a heated deicer at the location where it will be used. In one implementation, potassium hydroxide and acetic acid are combined using the apparatus and method to make hot potassium acetate for use in numerous deicer applications, including deicing of airport runways.

1 . A method of deicing a surface, comprising:
 mixing, in a vessel, a first deicer precursor and a second deicer precursor to create a deicer mixture;   responsive to the mixing of the first and second deicer precursors, permitting an exothermic reaction of the first deicer precursor and the second deicer precursor; and   distributing the deicer mixture on a surface during the exothermic reaction.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein distributing occurs upon completion of the exothermic reaction. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing further includes adding a metered amount of the first deicer precursor to a metered amount of the second deicer precursor. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first deicer precursor is an acidic solution and the second deicer precursor is an alkaline solution. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deicer mixture is a potassium acetate solution. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further including transferring the deicer mixture from the vessel to a dispenser prior to distributing the deicer mixture on the surface. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further including adding a corrosion inhibitor to the deicer mixture. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including stirring the first deicer precursor and the second deicer precursor in the vessel to promote the exothermic reaction. 
   
   
       9 . A method of deicing a surface, comprising:
 receiving, at one inlet location of a vessel, a first deicer precursor;   receiving, at a plurality of inlet locations of the vessel, a second deicer precursor;   mixing the first and second deicer precursors resulting in a deicer mixture and causing an exothermic reaction; and   distributing the deicer mixture onto a surface during the exothermic reaction.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein distributing the deicer mixture occurs upon completion of the exothermic reaction. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising transferring the deicer mixture from the vessel to a dispenser prior to distributing the deicer mixture onto the surface. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein transferring further includes forcing the deicer mixture to exit the vessel using steam generated during the exothermic reaction. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first deicer precursor is an acidic solution and the second deicer precursor is an alkaline solution. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the deicer mixture is a potassium acetate solution. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , further including adding a corrosion inhibitor to the deicer mixture. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein receiving the first deicer precursor and the second deicer precursor includes controlling the amount of the first and second deicer precursor.