A cryoblasting process using a centrifugal accelerator for accelerating frozen pellets of argon or carbon dioxide toward a target area utilizes an accelerator throw wheel designed to induce, during operation, the creation of a low-friction gas bearing within internal passages of the wheel which would otherwise retard acceleration of the pellets as they move through the passages.
An associated system and method for removing paint from a surface with cryoblasting techniques involves treating, such as preheating, the painted surface to soften the paint before the impact of frozen pellets to increase the rate of paint removal.
A system and method for producing large quantities of frozen pellets from a liquid material, such as liquid argon or carbon dioxide, for use in a cryoblasting process utilizes a chamber into which the liquid material is introduced in the form of a jet that disintegrates into droplets.
A noncondensible gas, such as inert helium or air, is injected into the chamber at a controlled rate so the droplets freeze into bodies of relatively high density.
Applications include paint stripping, cleaning of radioactive surface contamination, and solvent reduction in cleaning/stripping processes.
More info: Mark Reeves, 865-576-2577, reevesme@ornl.gov
