In the early 1990s the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) needed a method to open containers that stored nuclear contaminates. There were available options that could open the containers, but they had the potential of creating large amounts of contaminated secondary waste streams. Finding a way to open the containers without creating a waste stream became the project’s first goal.
One winter morning as an engineer was driving to work, he traveled over the Snake River where steam was rising off of the river—an idea was born. Could using a cryogenic gas eliminate the waste stream? The short answer is yes.
After developing the equipment to a prototype, the INL transferred the technology to a private company, Nitrocision (www.nitro cision.com). Since 2002, Nitrocision has consolidated, redesigned, and reengineered the original equipment into a multi-use, multi-application tool, called NitroJet. The tool pressurizes liquid nitrogen (LIN) to clean surfaces, remove coatings, scabble concrete, and cut metals and composites.
The NitroJet design allows for the delivery of various pressure and temperature streams of LIN. The pressure can range from 6,000 to 50,000 psi with temperatures ranging from +300°F to -240°F. When the ultra high pressure LIN stream leaves the nozzle at 50,000 psi and -240°F, it is traveling at more than 2,000 mph. The effect of the liquid and speed creates tremendous kinetic energy. This energy removes material at the surface.
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