Cleaning Electrical Equipment
Dry ice blasting offers a safe, fast, and effective way to complete maintenance on electrical power generation equipment.
Generators, turbines, stators, rotors, compressors, boilers, and heat recovery steam generators (HRSG) can all be cleaned using dry ice blasting. The process is non-conductive and environmentally friendly compared to traditional cleaning methods. Dry ice blasting will reduce the chance of catastrophic failure, improve megohm readings, increase polarization indices, and improve thermal dissipation.
Dry ice eliminates secondary waste and leaves no film or residue on the contact surfaces. This process drastically reduces cleaning time and provides a greater detail cleaning allowing faster reassembly with no drying time and substantially reducing costs.
The Benefits of Cleaning Electrical Equipment with Dry Ice Blasting
Dry ice blast cleaning is a process that can be safely used on electrical apparatus. There is no damage to stator slots, turbine blades, or other delicate components. Popular applications include hydro generating equipment (stators & rotors), transformers, substations, gas turbine generators, nuclear decontamination, insulators, motor control centers, power distribution panels, and system components.
- Safe for equipment
- Safe for the environment
- Safe for employees
- Cleaned in place
- Dry on contact
- No secondary waste
Dry Ice Blasting quickly, effectively, and safely removes contaminates from equipment at Ontario Power Generation. Dry ice blasting is ideal for cleaning all kinds of surfaces, from metal, to wood, to brick.
Fin Fans
Heat exchangers, chillers, evaporators, condensers, generator fans, and air exchangers need to be cleaned regularly. The cooling coils surrounded by fins get plugged up over time with dirt and other debris as air moves through them. When this happens, it causes these expensive machines to work harder and consume more energy.
Dry ice blasting is the most efficient, environmentally friendly, and least time-consuming method for fin fan cleaning. Blockages in these coils are instantly removed with no mess or damage to the fins. The Wickens Dry Ice Blasting team are experts in industrial cleaning, ensuring the delicate fins surrounding the coils are not damaged and providing a cleaner clean.
Cleaning Electronic Components
Tricky clean up requires a powerful solution. Dry ice blast cleaning removes dirt, grime, tar, and bitumen to reveal a clean surface on electrical components. Dry ice is safe around wires, without disassembly or downtime. Wickens Dry Ice Blasting machines are portable so cleaning can be done in place without taking up much space. Dry ice blasting can be used to clean electrical panels, variable frequency drives, and welded components.
Transformer Cleaning
Dry ice blasting removes dirt, grime, and loose paint from transformers, improving performance more quickly than other cleaning methods. The process is completely dry and can be done on-site, which substantially reduces downtime. Following cleaning, transformers can also be painted to the customer’s specifications.
Stator and Rotor Cleaning
Dry ice blasting removes carbon deposits from windings along with other contaminants from the air vents on the stator and the rotor. Oil and grease is removed from the bottom of the rotor without damage to the insulating coatings or glyptal. A rotor and stator can typically be cleaned in 20% of the time and more thoroughly than it takes to clean by hand. There is no secondary waste as is the case with Walnut Blasting.
Gas Turbine Cleaning
Dry ice blasting effectively cleans the rotor and casing. Deposits and fouling buildup are removed from the rotor blades without damage to the metal surfaces. Carbon buildup and mechanical debris is removed from the casing vanes. Dry ice also provides rapid cleaning of ancillary turbine parts facilitating fast turnaround.
Heat Recovery Steam Generator (HRSG) Cleaning
High-pressure tube wall cleaning with dry ice removes corrosion and gas deposits from the tubes and fins. Our extensive experience allows us to offer a turn key service in scaffold erection and confined space work.
Cogeneration Boilers
Boiler wall and heating tubes are cleaned with dry ice blasting, drastically improving heat transfer and flow. Quick turnaround is offered by our experienced technicians in confined space and scaffolding.
Decontaminating a “Semi-Hot” Cell
There are many old reactors and nuclear facilities that are either being dismantled or planned for decommissioning. Dry ice blasting can be used for decontamination of a “semi-hot” cell where lower levels of radioactivity are present as well as decontaminating building surfaces and removing contaminated coatings.
Before & After
Check out these before and after photos of Electric Power projects completed by Wickens Dry Ice Blasting.
Case Studies
Case Study: Fire Restoration on High-Rise Building
Learn how Wickens used DOFF cleaning on soot and fire residue to clean the exterior of a nine-storey high-rise building in our latest case study.
Case Study: Fire Restoration at Hydro Substation
Wickens Dry Ice Blasting helped restore a fire-damaged hydro substation in Ontario with top-down cleaning and careful attention to sensitive components.
Case Study: Lead Paint Removal for Wanda III Steamship Restoration
Learn how we used media blasting to remove lead paint from the historical steamship, Wanda III, helping to prepare for its return to the waters.
Case Study: Attic Mould Removal in Townhouse Complex
Mould can be a serious problem in any home, causing health issues and damaging the structure of the building.
Case Study: Fire Restoration at School
Cleaning after a fire with dry ice blasting ensures that soot and odour are eliminated safely. Learn how this environmentally friendly technique restored a utility room.
Case Study: Grafton Historic Building Restoration
There are many reasons why people choose to restore an old building. Historic buildings are an important way of keeping history alive, and they can also be a great source of pride for their communities.
Case Study: DOFF Cleaning for External Wood Panelling on Estate Property
Wickens recently worked on cleaning, coating, and rejuvenating wood panelling on an elegant manor using DOFF steam cleaning methods.
Case Study: Paint Removal for Warehouse in Downtown Toronto
Wickens Dry Ice Blasting worked on a paint removal project at an old factory/warehouse in downtown Toronto that was being re-purposed into office spaces.
Case Study: Lead Paint Removal in Ontario Brewery
Wickens Dry Ice Blasting assisted in the removal and disposal of lead paint in an Ontario brewery, keeping the establishment and its employees safe.
Case Study: Log Cabin Restoration
Wickens Dry Ice Blasting has extensive experience cleaning log cabins using special blasting techniques that are non-harmful to the surrounding environment.
Case Study: Dry Ice Blasting Used for a Fire Restoration Project
Wickens used dry ice blasting cleaning techniques for the safe handling of food production equipment in a fire restoration project in Toronto, Ontario.
Case Study: Fire Restoration of 10-Storey Office Building
Wickens Dry Ice Blasting worked on a fire restoration project on a 10-storey office building for a client in Ontario. This project required the use of vapour blasting which is an environmentally friendly dustless fire restoration method.
Case Study: DOFF and Dry Ice Blasting Used for Fire Restoration Project
Fires quickly spread from one part of the house to another and require non-destructive cleaning methods that are safe for the environment and effective on a wide variety of surface substrates.
Case Study: Lead Paint Removal for Major Food Processor
Many older industrial and commercial buildings have lead-based paint hazards. These hazards are a major issue, as employees in these buildings are susceptible to exposure to this toxic substance and may be at risk for progressive health problems if the lead paint is not removed safely.
Case Study: Using Dry Ice Blasting to Clean Economizer Piping
Economizers are prone to dirt and deposit buildup, which hinders them from accomplishing the very tasks they’re installed to do. That’s why an S.A.G.D. industry leader located in Alberta called the professionals at Wickens Dry Ice Blasting.
Case Study: Toronto Condominium Fire Restoration
Condo fire damage quickly spreads to nearby units as well as the building exterior, displacing residents from their homes until the building can be safely restored.
Case Study: Historical Restoration and Preservation of the Kissing Bridge
Many tourists from different parts of the world come to visit Waterloo to experience the scenic beauty of the Covered Bridge. The professionals at Wickens were called in to perform dry Ice blasting, ensuring the bridge retains its pleasing interior. Thanks to dry ice blasting, cleaning this historical structure no longer carries the threat of damage it once did.
Case Study: Fire Restoration in a Subway Restaurant
When a fire leaves a business unable to function, it’s crucial to call in the experts to restore the damaged areas and get back to serving customers as quickly as possible. That’s why a restoration company called the professionals at Wickens after a Subway restaurant in Burlington experienced serious fire damage.
Case Study: Via Rail Fire Restoration & Prevention
Via Rail connects Canada from coast to coast—so it’s crucial to keep trains running safely and efficiently. After an incident involving an exhaust vent that caught fire, Via Rail called in the professionals at Wickens Dry Ice Blasting to restore the area and provide preventive cleaning to avoid similar issues in the future.
Case Study: Mould Remediation at a St. Catharines Ice Arena
Managers of an ice arena in St. Catharine’s, Ontario discovered significant mould growth on the ceiling of the building. Wickens Dry Ice Blasting was able to clean the mould residue and mould spores from the ceiling and support structures within two weeks.
Case Study: Using Dry Ice Blasting to Clean the Canadian Plaza Canopy in Niagara
On the Canadian side of the Peace Bridge, visitors are greeted by the Canadian Plaza, which consists of a main administration building for processing arrivals. Wickens used dry ice blasting to clean the wooden structure without disrupting the high volumes of visitor traffic.
Case Study: Mould Removal from Hamilton Townhouses
The Municipality of Hamilton, Ontario faced a nightmare situation when mould was found in the attics of 90 residential townhouses. Wickens completed the three-month mould remediation project on time, under budget, and with very little disruption to the tenants.
Case Study: Removing Asbestos from an Office Building
A three-story office building in South Western Ontario had areas of exposed brick on all levels that had been painted with asbestos-containing paint. With extensive experience, specialized processes, and trained technicians, Wickens Dry Ice Blasting was able to safely and quickly remove the asbestos.
Case Study: Saving a Building Project from Mould
For builders in Northern Ontario, winter came all too quickly while constructing a luxury condo building. With snow and wet conditions, mould developed on the building materials and spread throughout the building. Wickens quickly mobilized a team of trained technicians to begin the mould remediation process.
Case Study: Removing Lead Paint from a Historic Lighthouse in Niagara
Marking the entrance to the Niagara River is a lighthouse that once guided boats and ships arriving via Lake Ontario. Recently, Fisheries and Oceans Canada decided it was necessary to refurbish the lighthouse and remove the lead paint that had been applied years ago before federal regulations came into effect.
TRIED AND TESTED
From Our Clients
Your process using dry ice to blast clean our extruder worked extremely well. We saved on downtime allowing us to get up and running in a fraction of the time it normally takes after cleaning. Thanks to your crew; they did a great job!
My wife and I want to send our sincere thanks for the great service. We really enjoyed meeting you and we appreciate the fact that you made it happen as quickly as you did, especially with our renovation in progress. Your team was amazing and they did a superb job. David and his crew were fantastic. They were polite, courteous, and they left the house spotless. Class “A” all the way. I would recommend Wickens to anyone that we know. Thanks again for everything.
David and Philip did an amazing job with the last cleaning work. They accomplished a lot and it was very noticeable.
I just wanted you to know how impressed I was with the service and quality of work provided by Kevin. Kevin went above and beyond. He and his partner removed the asbestos, taking pictures of the completed work that I was able to share with our customer. I was so impressed by his courteous manner, his professionalism, and his quality of work.