de-icing runways what substance is used.

[magpienja]

Just curious, what substance is used to de-ice runways that jets aircraft may use.

Nick.

[OCEAN WUN ZERO]

Most places use Safegrip. Does the job without the issues of corrosion that domestic gritting has.

Me thinks it will become as scarce as Rudolf’s droppings if this freeze goes on.

Ho Ho Ho.

OWZ
:)

[Sir George Cayley]

Safegrip sounds like a trade name.

Generic compounds comprise a variety of chemicals. The old faithful, now no longer environmentally friendly, was Urea - in blunt terms Pig's Piss in solid form. It would attack any ice like a laser. Unfortunately, it would also attack fish in the same way if the airport's drains ran into a river.

Old school chemicals were made from Glycol - yes the same as Spitfire radiators were filled with. One trade name that comes to mind is Konsin

In recent years, more environmentally friendly materials have come to market. Clearway, which I think is a Potassium based acetate is a common UK runway anti-icer but has been less successful as a de-icer.

If anyone has a better mousetrap to deal with this subject let me know - I only take 49% :)

Sir George Cayley

[spekesoftly]

As well as potentially polluting water courses, spreading the old urea for best effect was not easy. Any significant wind would simply blow it away, and surfaces needed to be wet to disolve the pellets.

[OCEAN WUN ZERO]

SAFEGRIP STANDARD is a potassium acetate based de-icer and contains no glycols, urea or triazoles. It is formulated with corrosion inhibitors and conforms to material compatibility tests according to AMS 1435A.
Specific gravity (20°C) : 1.29 (typical) (equivalent to 1.29 kg/L)
Freezing point : less than -60°C
Water miscibility : Completely miscible
Conductivity (20°C) : 82 milliSiemens
Viscosity (20°C) : less than 10 mPa.s
Viscosity (0°C) : less than 20 mPa.s
Not flammable
PRODUCT SPECIFICATION
Appearance colourless to pale straw liquid
Composition % Potassium Acetate > 50% (equivalent to approximately 650 g/L)
pH (20°C, neat) 11.0 ± 0.5
The product is tested using our standard analytical methods.
STANDARD PACKAGING
Road tankers, according to transport regulations.
1000 litre Intermediate bulk containers (IBCs), 200 and 25 litre polyethylene drums.
MAIN USES
SAFEGRIP STANDARD is an environmentally safe, high performance anti-icing and de-icing liquid for runways and taxiways. Additionally, it finds uses for other specialist de-icing applications e.g. road bridge de-icing.

:8

[Deicerman]

Most airports in mainland Europe use potassium formate based de-icer. Most in the USA and Canada use potassium acetate, as do the UK and Ireland. Both have equivalent performance, although the formates are thought to have a lighter environmental load than the acetates. Acetates are cheaper. Glycols are sometimes used. All need to contain inhibitors to meet AMS standards of anticorrosion performance. There are several brand names, Safegrip, Clearway, Aviform etc.

[magpienja]

Mmmm interesting and it sounds expensive as well thank you chaps.

Nick.

[Ex Cargo Clown]

Mmmm interesting and it sounds expensive as well thank you chaps.

Nick.

Not expensive to manafacture at all !!!

[OCEAN WUN ZERO]

@ £750 per tonne. can be up to £5000 per application for a standard size runway if you put it down at the right time.
:sad:

[call100]

Not to mention the Blood, sweat and many tears added to the mix.....:eek::)

[ILS25]

De-Icer makes a nice mess of AGL fittings, welds them into their seating pots as it solidifies in the voids around the fitting and makes them nearly impossible to remove for maintenance/lamp replacement. It also leaves a film on the AGL fitting lenses that can cut light output by upto 40%. Boring I know, but fact.

[Amelia Earhart]

Snow plough plus heated sand in Scandinavia: Clear Stockholm's 2 mile runway in 8 minutes.

[jamestkirk]

You lot need to get out more. Or try drinking the stuff.:):)

Happy christmas

[derelicte]

Please read carefully as there will be a short test afterwards:

Chemical & Engineering News: WHAT'S THAT STUFF? - AIRCRAFT DEICERS (http://pubs.acs.org/cen/whatstuff/stuff/7901scit5.html)

[roverman]

As one who has in years past had to manage airfield de-icing (or anti-icing), we really do miss UREA. It was a demon of a de-icer, but having said that, it did take some of the skill and fine judgement out of managing the operation. It was so effective that you could take risks with the timing of any treatment, something you can't do with the acetate-based liquids. KONSIN (made by ICI) was used for years and is pretty good stuff. Most now use Safegrip, or Clearway (from BP) - not as effective in my view, but cheaper.
Recommended application rates vary from around 15 gr. per Sq. Metre to 60 gsm according to prevailing / expected temperature and presence of contaminants. Generally it takes more media to de-ice than to anti-ice.

Nothing is more useful to those making these difficult decisions than hindsight.

[Higher Archie]

Ahhh, the good old days of airfields using Urea! At MAN that's why the River Bollin never froze.

Urea with its massive Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) meant that there was no fish in the river when airport discharged surface water directly. As a result, complicated systems to divert contaminated water to the sewage system were put in place. Then United Utilities were unable to treat water with a high ammonia content. So the move to Konsin, friendlier and cheaper at the sewage works, but not as effective.

There's now salmon in the Bollin (horrrayyy) and aircraft stuck on the ground (booo)!