I am due to go offshore in Arctic waters and we are having problems with Ice build up on HVAC outlets HELP ME?

Question

I need to find a procedure including Risk assessment/analysis for the removal of Ice build up on HVAC outlets on an off shore installation in the Arctic Please help point me in the right direction I have tried various web sites and my employer
NO Help there

Answer 1

HVAC OUTLETS- I assume you mean the fart fan from the restroom or some other air exhaust because nobody would be stupid enough to install a heat pump in that climate unless it was designed in Texas. If I were you I would think about lowering the relative humidty of the air leaving as it is condensing and then freezing on the freezing outside surfaces or heating the outside surfaces periodically. I wonder if there is like an economizer box you could put on it and then just periodically heat the inside of the economizer box.

You could take an old breadbox like my grandmother used to have and stick an old '57 chevy radiator in it. Let that part be outside and where the water vapor in the exhaust vent would condense and freeze on the fins on the radiator. Then every once in a while, you could run some hot water or light some of those farts and run the exhaust gases through the water side of the radiator to defrost the coils.

But that brings up another issue as far as risk assessment. I saw some internet videos of people blowing up from trying to light farts- its a cheap source or heat but the safety people dont like it cause someobdy might get hurt and the environmental people dont like it cause they have to fill out a bunch of EPA paperwork to get a permit to operate a hazardous waste treatment facility.

Good luck and dont eat the yellow snow cause there might be some husky dogs in the neighborhood.

Answer 2

I'll assume you're talking about exhaust outlets. Since the outside is below freezing unless you remove the moisture first your going to have to heat the outside of the outlet above freezing or ice is going to build up on them.

I'd try electrical heating strips on the outside edge of the outlet. Also would insulate the outlet all the way to the discharge end.

Answer 3

Use electric elements to trace heat the warm air exhausts, something like the traceman heater tape, below, though I suspect 20W/m may not be enough

Answer 4

You dont say if its chilled water pipes icing up, or refrigerant pipes or brine pipes icing up or ventilation pipes. If you lag any pipework correctly it should prevent ice build up. Alternatively you could use a product like kill frost.