Crystallization-Free Deicing Brine Blend Using Sugar Additive

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current deicing solutions with sodium chloride and other solutes tend to precipitate crystallized salt at low temperatures, causing equipment failure and requiring the use of less effective or infrastructure-damaging chemicals to prevent crystallization.

Innovation Solution

A deicing brine blend is created by mixing sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and a sugar additive, with specific gravity ranges that inhibit crystallization until the blend reaches 10 degrees Fahrenheit, using a system that includes a processor to manage the composition and application.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sodium chloride and other solutes are used in deicing brine at high concentrations, then deicing effectiveness is improved, but crystallization occurs at low temperatures causing equipment failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeicing effectivenessVSAvoidcrystallization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameters of multiple solutes (sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, potassium chloride) to specific ranges that prevent crystallization while maintaining deicing effectiveness. The specific gravity ranges (1.179-1.156 for NaCl, 1.294 for CaCl2) are carefully controlled to avoid the crystallization threshold while preserving melting capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite brine solution combining four different chloride salts (NaCl, CaCl2, MgCl2, KCl) with a sugar additive. This composite formulation leverages the complementary properties of each component: sodium chloride for general deicing, calcium chloride for low-temperature performance, magnesium chloride for corrosion reduction, potassium chloride for enhanced melting, and sugar as a crystallization inhibitor, achieving both effectiveness and crystallization-free operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If crystallization is prevented by using lower salt concentrations, then equipment reliability is improved, but deicing effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment damage from crystallizationVSAvoiddeicing effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple deicing chemicals into a single brine solution, combining sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and potassium chloride in specific proportions. This combination allows the solution to maintain effective deicing performance across a wide temperature range while staying below the crystallization threshold of any individual component, thus protecting equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sugar additive acts as an intermediary substance that interferes with the crystallization process. It modifies the brine's physical properties to prevent salt crystal formation while allowing the chloride ions to continue functioning as effective deicing agents, thereby protecting equipment without sacrificing deicing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If harsh chemicals are used to prevent crystallization, then equipment reliability is improved, but environmental and infrastructure harm increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveequipment operation reliabilityVSAvoidinfrastructure destruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the concentration parameters of calcium chloride and magnesium chloride to specific ranges that provide crystallization prevention through controlled chemistry rather than extreme concentrations. This balanced formulation achieves equipment protection while minimizing the corrosive impact on infrastructure compared to using highly concentrated single-chemical solutions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The blend remains crystallization-free at low temperatures, reducing equipment damage and the need for harsh chemicals, while being cost-effective and efficient for deicing applications.

Implementation Method 1

The deicing brine blend may be crystallization-free at least until the deicing brine blend is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFreezing point depression: Freezing

Implementation Method 2

providing an amount of sodium chloride component solution, the amount of sodium chloride component solution having a specific gravity of approximately between 1.179 and 1.156. The process may include providing an amount of calcium chloride component solution, the amount of calcium chloride component solution having a specific gravity of approximately 1.294

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS11613684B1Method of producing, system for producing, and composition of deicing brines without crystallization

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 CITY OF LINCOLN NEBRASKA

AI summary

A system may include a non-transitory computer readable medium and a processor communicatively coupled to the non-transitory computer readable medium. The processor may be configured to execute instructions to perform a method to produce a deicing brine blend. The deicing brine blend may be crystallization-free at least until the deicing brine blend is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit.