EP1058756B1 - Method of despelling fog - Google Patents
Method of despelling fog Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1058756B1 EP1058756B1 EP99936106A EP99936106A EP1058756B1 EP 1058756 B1 EP1058756 B1 EP 1058756B1 EP 99936106 A EP99936106 A EP 99936106A EP 99936106 A EP99936106 A EP 99936106A EP 1058756 B1 EP1058756 B1 EP 1058756B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- fog
- clouds
- potassium formiate
- over
- potassium
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 9
- WFIZEGIEIOHZCP-UHFFFAOYSA-M potassium formate Chemical compound [K+].[O-]C=O WFIZEGIEIOHZCP-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009931 harmful effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 150000002823 nitrates Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 150000003467 sulfuric acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XTEGARKTQYYJKE-UHFFFAOYSA-M Chlorate Chemical class [O-]Cl(=O)=O XTEGARKTQYYJKE-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 150000001649 bromium compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000011089 carbon dioxide Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000001934 delay Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003292 diminished effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000004694 iodide salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000020477 pH reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- VLTRZXGMWDSKGL-UHFFFAOYSA-N perchloric acid Chemical class OCl(=O)(=O)=O VLTRZXGMWDSKGL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ADZWSOLPGZMUMY-UHFFFAOYSA-M silver bromide Chemical compound [Ag]Br ADZWSOLPGZMUMY-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 229940100890 silver compound Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 150000003379 silver compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 231100000331 toxic Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000002588 toxic effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
- E01H—STREET CLEANING; CLEANING OF PERMANENT WAYS; CLEANING BEACHES; DISPERSING OR PREVENTING FOG IN GENERAL CLEANING STREET OR RAILWAY FURNITURE OR TUNNEL WALLS
- E01H13/00—Dispersing or preventing fog in general, e.g. on roads, on airfields
Definitions
- This invention relates to a method for dissipating or dispelling fog and/or clouds in an environmentally friendly manner and which is especially suitable for fog and clouds which have a temperature of over -2°C, or socalled "warm fog".
- Fog often represents a major problem for a number of activities. Examples of this are various forms of transport and outdoor activities such as sports meetings and the like. Fog constitutes a serious problem for air traffic in particular. When airports have to close due to fog, this entails major expenses and delays for the passengers. In addition the diminished visibility represents a considerable increase in the risk of accidents for all transport, not only for air traffic.
- fog can be cleared from, e.g. airports by the dispersal of a fog-dissipating material from an aircraft, rocket or gun, thus causing the water particles in the fog to condense and fall as rain or snow, see for example US 2 052 626.
- suitable materials which, when dispersed over an area, will increase the precipitation of the fog's/clouds' water particles, such as various bromides, iodides, sulphates, nitrates, chlorates and perchlorates of alkaline metals as well as AgI and AgBr.
- the common factor for these compounds is that they are toxic and thus have undesirable and harmful effects on the environment exposed to them. This can represent a substantial problem for areas which require frequent fog clearance.
- the silver compounds are also extremely expensive, and the sulphates and nitrates cause acidification of the precipitation.
- the object of the invention is achieved by scattering potassium formiate in powder form on the fog/clouds which have to be dispelled. After testing various harmless materials over a period of several years, it has been found that potassium formiate is especially suitable for increasing the precipitation of water particles at temperatures over -2°C, particularly in the range +2 to +4°C.
- a block of pressed potassium formiate can be disposed immediately above the area which has to be treated and detonated, thereby pulverising the potassium formiate and dispersing it over the area.
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Atmospheric Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Architecture (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Materials Applied To Surfaces To Minimize Adherence Of Mist Or Water (AREA)
- Disintegrating Or Milling (AREA)
- Detergent Compositions (AREA)
- Cleaning Or Drying Semiconductors (AREA)
Description
This invention relates to a method for dissipating or dispelling fog and/or
clouds in an environmentally friendly manner and which is especially
suitable for fog and clouds which have a temperature of over -2°C, or socalled
"warm fog".
Fog often represents a major problem for a number of activities. Examples of
this are various forms of transport and outdoor activities such as sports
meetings and the like. Fog constitutes a serious problem for air traffic in
particular. When airports have to close due to fog, this entails major expenses
and delays for the passengers. In addition the diminished visibility represents
a considerable increase in the risk of accidents for all transport, not only for
air traffic.
It is well known in the art that fog can be cleared from, e.g. airports by the
dispersal of a fog-dissipating material from an aircraft, rocket or gun, thus
causing the water particles in the fog to condense and fall as rain or snow,
see for example US 2 052 626. In the literature there are described a number
of different suitable materials which, when dispersed over an area, will
increase the precipitation of the fog's/clouds' water particles, such as various
bromides, iodides, sulphates, nitrates, chlorates and perchlorates of alkaline
metals as well as AgI and AgBr. The common factor for these compounds is
that they are toxic and thus have undesirable and harmful effects on the
environment exposed to them. This can represent a substantial problem for
areas which require frequent fog clearance. The silver compounds are also
extremely expensive, and the sulphates and nitrates cause acidification of the
precipitation.
In Norwegian patent no. 176 727 the applicant has described the use of dry
ice for dispelling fog. This is an environmentally friendly material, but is
encumbered with the disadvantage that it is only effective on fog/clouds
which are colder than -2°C.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for dissipating or
dispelling fog and/or clouds which are warmer than -2°C in an
environmentally friendly manner, and which does not have any harmful
effects on animal and plant life in the area which is exposed to the method.
The object of the invention is achieved by scattering potassium formiate in
powder form on the fog/clouds which have to be dispelled. After testing
various harmless materials over a period of several years, it has been found
that potassium formiate is especially suitable for increasing the precipitation
of water particles at temperatures over -2°C, particularly in the range +2 to
+4°C. Alternatively, a block of pressed potassium formiate can be disposed
immediately above the area which has to be treated and detonated, thereby
pulverising the potassium formiate and dispersing it over the area.
A number of methods are described for bringing the fog-dissipating material
to the fog. The present invention employs the prior art for positioning the
potassium formiate, and therefore this will not be described further.
Reference should be made to the use of an aircraft/plane or to a gun as
described in Norwegian patent no. 176 727.
Claims (5)
- A method for dissipating or dispelling fog and/or clouds in an environmentally friendly manner,
characterized in that potassium formiate is disposed and dispersed in powder form over the fog or the clouds which have to be dispelled. - A method according to claim 1,
characterized in that potassium formiate is disposed over the fog and clouds which have to be removed in one or more blocks of pressed potassium formiate which is detonated, thus dispersing the potassium formiate over the fog or clouds in powder form. - A method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the fog or clouds on which the potassium formiate is employed are warmer than -2°C. - A method according to claims 1 - 3,
characterized in that the fog or clouds on which the potassium formiate is employed have a temperature in the range +2 to +4°C. - Use of potassium formate in powder form to dispel fog and/or clouds by dispersing the powder over the fog and/or cloud which is to be dispelled.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO19980886A NO314905B1 (en) | 1998-02-27 | 1998-02-27 | The use of potassium formate and the process for environmentally friendly dissolution wipe off |
| NO980886 | 1998-02-27 | ||
| PCT/NO1999/000067 WO1999043893A1 (en) | 1998-02-27 | 1999-02-26 | Method of despelling fog |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP1058756A1 EP1058756A1 (en) | 2000-12-13 |
| EP1058756B1 true EP1058756B1 (en) | 2003-04-23 |
Family
ID=19901737
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP99936106A Expired - Lifetime EP1058756B1 (en) | 1998-02-27 | 1999-02-26 | Method of despelling fog |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1058756B1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU3279299A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69907159T2 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO314905B1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1999043893A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2052626A (en) * | 1933-06-05 | 1936-09-01 | Massachusetts Inst Technology | Method of dispelling fog |
| US3613992A (en) * | 1966-03-25 | 1971-10-19 | Nat Science Foundation Usa | Weather modification method |
| US3647710A (en) * | 1970-02-10 | 1972-03-07 | Fmc Corp | Method for dispersing fog with phosphate salt compositions |
| DE3228755A1 (en) * | 1982-08-02 | 1984-02-02 | Rudolf-Walter 4600 Dortmund Teuber | Method of climatic control |
| GB9123794D0 (en) * | 1991-11-08 | 1992-01-02 | Atkinson Stephen | Vapour absorbent compositions |
-
1998
- 1998-02-27 NO NO19980886A patent/NO314905B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1999
- 1999-02-26 EP EP99936106A patent/EP1058756B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-02-26 WO PCT/NO1999/000067 patent/WO1999043893A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1999-02-26 AU AU32792/99A patent/AU3279299A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1999-02-26 DE DE69907159T patent/DE69907159T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NO314905B1 (en) | 2003-06-10 |
| EP1058756A1 (en) | 2000-12-13 |
| NO980886L (en) | 1999-08-30 |
| DE69907159D1 (en) | 2003-05-28 |
| DE69907159T2 (en) | 2004-02-05 |
| AU3279299A (en) | 1999-09-15 |
| WO1999043893A1 (en) | 1999-09-02 |
| NO980886D0 (en) | 1998-02-27 |
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