subject: Concrete Cooling: Four Concrete Cooling Alternative Methods [print this page] Methods for Cooling Concrete Methods for Cooling Concrete
Concrete cooling is commonly a term which is utilized to describe the approach of keeping the concrete being poured at a low temperature. This is important because curing concrete can rise in temperature as a result with the reaction between concrete and water. This causes an increase inside the volume of the concrete. When the concrete then actually starts to cool after curing, cracks will start to form and cracking may perhaps occur. In building tasks where strength is really a necessity, cooling could be applied to lower the initial temperature of the concrete as it is poured to ensure that the rising temperature is not going to go too high. When the temperature is maintained at a reduced level, cracking will not occur because the changing of temperatures will probably be reduced.
Cooling can become far more essential as concrete is used to build structures that require to be sturdy and long-lasting. Concrete is used to build dams, bridges, overpasses, and numerous other buildings that support enormous weights. Early cracking, such as cracking that will occur when the concrete heats and then cools, can result in a loss of robustness and longevity.
There are at least 4 concrete cooling methods that are in common use:
Concrete cooling using Flake Ice Evaporative Concrete Cooling Chilled Water Concrete Cooling Nitrogen Concrete Cooling
Concrete Cooling using Ice
The first method is commonly called Ice Cooling. In this method, ice replaces up to about 80% of the water in the concrete mixing truck or pre-mixer. The ice results in a cooler starting temperature compared to cold water and also further cools the mixture during the process of changing from ice to water.
Concrete Cooling using Vapor
A second method of cooling is evaporative cooling. In evaporative cooling, the water is sprinkled on the surface and it is important not to saturate the surface.
Concrete Chilled Water Cooling
The third approach of cooling works with using chilled water inside the concrete mix to reduce the temperature although the temperature cannot be lowered as significantly as with ice.
Concrete Nitrogen Cooling
The final technique of cooling is liquid nitrogen. In this strategy, liquid nitrogen, which has a really low temperature, is inserted to the mixing truck or in to the aggregate or water prior to the mixing method.
All four methods have advantages depending on the size and needs of the project.
