- 7 July 2005 -

RF roof cleaning in Moscow

A de-icing system developed in the Moscow Interindustry Innovation Centre called "Impulse" is based on a phenomenon discovered by engineering scientist Dr Igor Levin, research manager for the development.

Its physics is not fully understood, but its practical working side is claimed as visible and effective. Any passer-by in Moscow can observe it at 11 p.m. sharp in winter in the vicinity of the station of the newly constructed monorail railway near the Exhibition of National Economy Achievements in Moscow. At that time, above the station roof, fountains of snow and small pieces of ice fly upwards by about three meters, a fabulous but short lived sight of a few minutes.

Dr Levin explains the system comprises "a network of small devices directly under the roof, emitting a short (one-millionth of a second) but very powerful radio-frequency pulse. Hashing impulses of several generators working synchronously results in a strong electromagnetic field, which is converted at the roof/snow boundary into a powerful acceleration field."

It tears the snow/ice crust off with great force, breaking it and throwing it up transversely to the impulse direction. Snow and ice explode and roll away ensuring that the roof becomes absolutely clean. This is done automatically, with a station computer controlling the operation.

The systems developers claim that there is no danger from the electromagnetic pulses. The devices were specifically tested and proved quite harmless. The pulses are extremely short with the devices operating at a frequency of about 1kHz.

The inventors are now developing a similar system for anti-icing small airpcraft, where similar sensors will remove ice from aircraft wings. A system based on the same principle was made for a milk plant to loosen and clean dried milk residue building up in the tanks where it is manufactured. The work was previously done manually. Author Olga Maximenko wistfully regrets that the inventors have not turned to a household system for pots and pans.

Further information: L.I. Perevozchikova, Interindustry Innovation Center "Impulse", Moscow, Tel./Fax: + 7 (095) 290-42-69, Tel.: + 7 (095) 291-51-68
Source: http://www.informnauka.ru/eng/