b'PHOTO: KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTWINTER OPERATIONSMCI 17The submerged combustion process provides the benefits of mechanical agitation without any mechanical components to create it, he explains. This eliminates the risk ofDAVID MacEACHERNauger jams or nozzle clogs because agitation is created solely with air. Whats amazing about the technology is its so simple, MacEachern remarks. Weve perfected using that technology as part of our snow melters, but its pretty straightforwardyoure pushing air over a burner to heat air, and the air heats the water to melt snow.Typically, water is needed in the melting tank to begin the process. However, Trecans 135-PD and CT-15-LP models both have the Snowstart option, which allows operators without access to water to start the burner and blower at about 20% capacity, and then add snow slowly until the melting tank contains enough water to run at full operation. Fleet Manager one John Deere 332G Skid Steer withRemote communication technology allows the Aaron Kaden creditsa blade for clearing the top of parkingmanufacturer to help troubleshoot operational his predecessorgarage and loading snow melters.issues on these units. Kenny Williams forThe first measurable snow since the newTrecan considers the four 135-PDs helping find theterminal opened fell during Thanksgivingpurchased for MCI workhorse melters for any right equipmentweekend 2023, providing a great initial testNorth American airport. The model number at the annualrun for the snow removal teams. Despiterefers to their 135-ton-per-hour melting Snow SymposiumAARON KADEN the modest amount of accumulation,capacity, and PD indicates that they are in Buffalo, NY.Mawhirter notes that without the newportable diesel units. MacEachern notes that Based on his research, the Kansas Citymelters, it would have taken crews multiple135-PDs are especially useful around gates Aviation Department invested in fivedays and possibly weeks to remove all theand ramp areas. Trecan also offers stationary snow melters and a variety of removalsnow from the apron. in-ground models that run on natural gas, equipment.diesel or fuel oil, but MCI chose portable Specifically, the new additions toMelting vs. Hauling melters for flexibility and convenience.MCIs fleet are: The Trecan snow melters MCI uses employEach 135-PD can melt the equivalent of 25f our Trecan 135-PD snow melterssubmerged combustiona technologytandem dump truck loads of snow per hour. for apron areas; developed by Exxon Mobil in the lateBut you dont have the trucks hauling snowone Trecan CT-15-LP snow melter1950s. The equipment pushes air over aaway and then coming back to be reloaded for the top of the parking garage; burner and then releases the heated airand waiting to be loaded, MacEachern four John Deere 844L Mid-Sizebelow the surface of water in the meltingcomments. Its the most efficient, effective and Wheel Loaders, each with a Metaltank to raise the waters temperature bysafest way to get rid of snow, and youre not Pless MaxxPro 44-foot blade; just two to three degrees Fahrenheit abovedouble handling it. four John Deere 644X Hybrid Mid- freezing. Because its a direct energy transferthe warm air comes in contactOperators park the 135-PDs over storm Size Wheel Loaders with Metaldrains and load snow into their 16-foot-long Pless 20-foot blades, which crewswith the water in the melting tankit is about 98% thermal efficient, reportscarbon steel melting tanks. After the snow is use to push snow and load snowmelted, water flows out at a rate of up to 540 melters;Trecan Sales Manager David MacEachern. Just about every ounce of heat in a gallongallons per minute into the storm drains and two John Deere 244L Compactof diesel fuel goes into warming that waterthen to a treatment facility. When the melters Wheel Loaders, each with a Metalto melt the snow in the process. Were notare placed at an aircraft deicing area, like on the Pless 13-foot blade; andwasting energy.old terminal apron at MCI, water drains into the glycol retention system for capture and reuse.AirportImprovement.comMarch | April 2024'