TF Design was commissioned to develop a snow melter system to produce fresh water for the SANAE IV base in Antarctica.
It consists of a 9000L reservoir tank that is filled with snow, with another 9000L reserve tank coupled in parallel.
The pump room contains all the equipment required to convert the snow into water and to ensure clean, filtered water is provided to the base. The control room consists of pumps, element tanks, a water filtration system, valves, sensors and electrical control equipment. The unit can melt 850kg of ice in a 2 hour period to 25°C. The structure of the tanks and control room is manufactured from 316 Stainless Steel and insulated with 140mm insulation material to prevent excessive heat loss to the environment.
The melter is installed underground approximately 100m away from the base. Snow is bulldozed, shovelled, or naturally falls into the tanks. The snow is melted by constantly circulating existing water in the tank and spraying it onto the snow. This process continues until all the snow is melted. Thereafter the water temperature is maintained until it is required by the base, after which it is pumped to the storage tanks in the base.
