This SGER project will examine the feasibility of generating ice in the decompression region of a supersonic jet, followed by a supersonic ice-blasting abrasion for the removal of paint and corrosion from a broad variety of industrial structures. This approach will replace sand blasting abrasion, which has significant environmental and economic drawbacks. The ability to generate at the desired location ice crystals of appropriate size for abrasive purposes has to be demonstrated. Various abrasive particles, that become residue immediately after abrasion, are replaced by water that is available at almost any location. A simplified analytical model for flow and heat transfer around small particles entrained by a supersonic jet indicates that water droplets will be formed. The proposed experiments will test the model assumptions, identify other related phenomena, and finally test the feasibility of the approach. This exploratory research is relevant to environmentally benign manufacturing (e.g. abrasive blasting of nuclear power facilities or coated mills) and to maintaining the civil infrastructure (e.g. cleaning of the lead-based paints from bridges, large structures and equipment, as well as toxic sandblasting storage).

Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1993-03-01
Budget End
1994-08-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1993
Total Cost
$50,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Pennsylvania State University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
University Park
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
16802