The use of a liquid to pre-wet dry chloride deicers and abrasives has been around for a lot longer than most people realize. Pioneered over 40 years ago, pre-wetting was shown by a study by Marquette University to substantially reduce the amount of material needed (30%) to achieve the desired results. Additionally, with pre-wetting the performance of the dry material is enhanced by melting at colder temperatures and activating more quickly.
Pre-wetting of salt is a process of coating or treating the dry material with a liquid. Generally done in the range of 8 to 12 gallons of liquid per ton of material, this approach has many benefits. Pre-wetted salt will stick to the pavement and become less prone to blowing off from traffic before it can begin to activate or brine. The type of liquid used to pre-wet can range from a solution of salt brine to a high performance formulated product, such as our SOLUTIONS Brine, magnesium chloride, or calcium chloride liquid. These can be further enhanced with admixtures of products like Caliper and IceBan for corrosion inhibition.
THE STUDY in pre-wetting that changed it all:
http://www.trc.marquette.edu/publications/IceControl/ice-control-1992.pdf
A variety of choices are available to customers who want to try pre-wetting salt:
All of these approaches have pros and cons. Determining which one is best for you is where we can help. At MeltSnow.com, we have been involved in specifying, building, and engineering pre-wet systems for over 40 years.
At a minimum, sufficient storage tank capacity is needed to service your needs. A good rule of thumb is that you should be able to store at least 1.5 full tank trucks of liquid. The reason is simple: If you take deliveries of liquid that are less than 45,000 lbs, then you are paying to haul air in the tank truck. Our tankers hold approximately 4,500 gallons of liquid. Our costs to move that tanker from our facility to your facility are the same whether it has 4,500 gallons, or 450 gallons.The cost of the delivery will not change since you are paying to move the whole truck irrespective of how much product is in it.
The best economics are when we can deliver full tank truck quantities to our customers. That generally requires that the customer has sufficient storage to allow some “heel” in the tank to cover the time between when the product is ordered and when it is delivered, normally a few days. On this basis, we recommend 6,000-gallon storage tanks for all of our liquid customers as a starting point. More to the point, if our costs of moving our tankers are $450 per delivery, then a delivery of 450 gallons costs $1.00 per gallon as compared with 4,500 gallons, which costs only $0.10/gallon — a savings of $0.90/gallon in freight costs alone.
What Sort of Equipment Will I Need for Pre-Wetting Applications?
Because of our experience in pre-wetting and the wide range of tanks, pumps, and controls we offer, we can openly discuss the needs of our customers and offer options that result in well designed, affordable equipment and a successful liquid pre-wetting program. And because we also supply storage and base dispensing equipment and direct liquid applicators of similar quality, we can work with you to implement an entire liquid winter maintenance program from concept to storm fighting.
Hopper Spreaders:
Saddle tanks are designed to fit in the triangular space on the sides of a spreader and to fit in a dump body if required. Tank sizes range from 20 gallon, for pick-up spreaders to 150 gallon for tandem axle trucks.
Tailgate or Dual Purpose Spreaders:
Designed to fit on the tailgate of the truck, capacities range from 35 to 180 gallons. Chassis mount tanks are designed to fit between the cab and dump body (clearance of 14” is required). Capacities range from 60 to 160 gallons.
Pumps:
Meltsnow.com has pumps powered hydraulically or by 12 volt electric that are enclosed in NEMA 4 rated, sealed fiberglass enclosures. Over the past 40 years, we have learned which components will give dependable, affordable service.
Controls:
Various manufacturers design control systems specifically for highway maintenance. Our controllers range from simple on/off models to sophisticated solid state, data logging units. All are proven dependable and guaranteed for one year.
Pre-wetting equipment is used in the worst imaginable conditions. Constantly exposed to vibration, abrasion, corrosion, and temperatures down to –40°F, the equipment must function dependably.