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Through a licensing agreement between NASA's Ames
Research Center and Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc. (MIS), comes
a new development to make railroads safer and more reliable during
wintry conditions. MIS has been the leading provider of deicing
and anti-icing fluids used on railway systems for more than 20
years. Through the licensing agreement, two MIS products have
been enhanced with NASA's anti-icing fluid technology.
This NASA technology
was designed specifically for use as an anti-icing and deicing
agent. It is an effective and environmentally friendly, biodegradable
fluid that has proven its capabilities over a broad range of
low temperatures. The fluid is also non-corrosive, and will not
damage the railways when applied. It is safe to use with the
electrical wiring associated with railways, because it is not
conductive.
MIS offers the
new fluid in two commercial products, the Zero GravityTM Third
Rail Anti-Icer/Deicer and the Ice Free Switch.® Using
NASA's fluid technology, these products form a protective-coating
barrier that prevents the buildup of ice and snow. Applying the
fluid to the railway components prior to ice or snowstorm works
as an anti-icing fluid, remaining in place to melt precipitation
as it hits the surface.
It also functions
as a deicing fluid. If applied to an already frozen switch or
rail, it will quickly melt the ice, free the frozen parts, and
then remain in place to prevent refreezing. Additional benefits
include the ability to cling to vertical rail surfaces and resist
the effects of rain and wind.
Manually freeing
frozen switches can take an entire crew several hours. With the
Ice Free Switch, it takes only five minutes to treat the switch
by spraying, brushing, or pouring on the product. Ice Free Switch
requires as little as one gallon per switch whereas other deicing
fluids require five to ten gallons of liquid to effectively melt
ice.
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Using
Ice Free Switch,® enhanced with Zero
Gravity,™ helps keep railways free of ice and snow. |
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The
Ice Free Switch,® enhanced with
Zero Gravity™ and manufactured by Midwest Industrial Supply,
Inc., uses NASA-developed technology to make railways safer. |
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Zero Gravity
serves the same anti-icing/deicing purposes but applies fluid
to the third rail through a system that is easily installed onto
mass transit cars. A tank of fluid and a dispensing system are
placed underneath the train car and the fluid is applied as the
train runs its route.
The fluid leaves
no build-up, does not become tacky, and will not leave excessive
residue on the application site. It also works as a lubricant
to keep rails and switches operating smoothly. Due to these beneficial
features, the fluid can be left unattended for an extended length
of time once it has been applied. This is a significant benefit
to consider when treating rail components located in remote areas.
The fluid is
effective in temperatures as low as -70 °F, which is an improvement
over the use of heaters. Heaters have trouble functioning if
temperatures are sub-zero, and they have high rates of energy-consumption.
Use of the new products has resulted in fewer instances of lost
power and stalled trains. Most importantly, passengers can travel
safely and with fewer weather-related delays.
MIS is impressed
with the results of its enhanced products for railroad operations.
The company looks forward to expanding its products to solve
similar problems in other industries. Many new applications will
likely be found for this remarkable fluid from the space program.
If recent successes are an indicator, a smooth ride moving the
anti-icing technology forward is assured.
Ice Free Switch® is a registered
trademark of Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc.
Zero Gravity™ is a trademark of Midwest Industrial Supply,
Inc.
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