Snow Removal

[Entropy]

Snow Removal (http://what-if.xkcd.com/130/)


So apparently melting it is not as efficient as we had hoped. :(

[lander]

Interesting read...be sure to click on the link for the Snowzilla. :seasix:

or..

Snowzilla clears the rails on Mattapan Line - YouTube

[Cybercowboy]

It takes 1 calorie to raise 1 gram of water 1 degree C.

It takes 0.5 calories to raise 1 gram of ice 1 degree C.

It takes 80 calories to turn 1 gram of ice at 0 degrees C to 1 gram of water at 0 degrees C.

80 calories. Therein lies the problem. It almost takes as much energy to bring very cold water to a boil as it does to just melt slushy ice.

[DAB]

long, long ago, when i was working in Antarctica, i got a request from the station manager, who had gotten an email from one of the mechanics.

next to the Heavy Shop (where they did vehicle maintenance and repair), was a large pile of snow and ice that had built up over the years, and one day during summer, the guy noticed a small rivulet along the ice pile. his theory was that we could take that water, run it thru a pump, spray it on the ice, and melt the ice.

:slap:

i ended up doing the math on how much diesel fuel would be needed to melt the entire pile, which was about 100 yards x 50 yards x 20 feet deep. average temp was about 0F i figured.

yeah, that idea quickly died, but i got to spend a day proving it was a dumb idea.