ICeFree SYSTEM ©

The IceFree System is a fixed automated anti-icing spray system, specifically designed for highway/roadway application. This anti-icing system uses a Fix Automated Spray Technology (FAST) that continuously monitors conditions of the pavement of roads and bridges or structures and based on the detection of critical threshold of several environmental parameters, automatically fires, spraying a chemical liquid solution , just in advance of
icing conditions.

The spray is effectively applied to the driving surface under a range of weather conditions and, depending on how the programmable logic be configured, the system will continue to monitor conditions and automatically either repeatedly reapply the anti-icing chemical if the chemical becomes diluted or, deactivating the program in the event of a heavy snow. Deactivation is required since the IceFree is intended as an anti-icing solution , not a snow removal system.

The heart of the IceFree System is an advance Automatic Weather Station (AWS) Model METEODATA-3000C , which integrates a number of sophisticated sensors for detecting the pavement conditions such as its temperature, the presence of water or ice, salts concentration , etc. as well a set of meteorological sensors for the continuous measurement of all relevant environmental parameters: Temperature and Relative Humidity of air, the Dew Point, Wind Speed and Direction, Present Weather (Visibility and Precipitation Intensity with identification of rain, snow , etc.), Solar Radiation, heat soil flux , etc.

When the AWS detects the risk of ice formation over the pavement, a command is transmitted to the hydraulic installation for activating the spraying. So this unit is a typical Road Weather Information System (RWIS). So the iceFree System is made up of three subsystems :

The REWIS for the Detection and Activation.

The FAST Subsystem Server.

The Hydraulic Subsystem.

As a matter of fact the AWS Model METEODATA-3000C integrates both the REWIS and the FAST subsystems, as this unit is a very versatile electronic device. It also includes several communication ports for data transmission via GPRS, Ethernet, etc. to a Central Station where the Transportation Authorities or Maintenance Companies, would have the possibility of analysing the situation in base of the information received from the remote installation.