System and method of snow conversion

A motor vehicle comprising:

• a power-source configured to generate a power-source torque for driving the motor vehicle;
• a vehicle body structure defined by a front end and a rear end;
• a plow mounted to the vehicle body structure and configured to clear snow from an access surface traversed by the motor vehicle;
• and
• a snow conversion system for removal of the snow, the system including:
• a mixing tank mounted to the body structure;
• a conveyor apparatus mounted proximate the front end of the vehicle body structure, fluidly connected to the mixing tank, and configured to receive the snow from the plow and transfer the snow into the mixing tank;
• a fluid delivery arrangement configured to inject a magnesium chloride into the mixing tank to combine the magnesium chloride with the transferred snow, melt the transferred snow, and thereby generate a solution of the melted snow and the magnesium chloride having a freezing point lower than water;
• a mixer configured to agitate and mix the snow and the injected magnesium chloride in the mixing tank and thereby further facilitate melting of the snow in the mixing tank;
• a fluid nozzle mounted proximate the rear end of the vehicle body structure in fluid communication with the mixing tank and configured to dispense the solution of the melted snow and the magnesium chloride onto the access surface to thereby provide de-icing and anti-icing of the access surface;
• a sensor configured to detect a concentration of the magnesium chloride in the solution;
• an auxiliary heating element arranged inside the mixing tank and configured to add thermal energy to the solution of the melted snow and magnesium chloride and thereby enhance a rate of melting of the snow in the mixing tank;
• an auxiliary injection arrangement configured to inject iron oxide into the mixing tank to react with magnesium in the injected magnesium chloride and thereby generate an exothermic chemical reaction and further enhance the rate of melting of the snow in the mixing tank;
• and
• an electronic controller in communication with the sensor and configured to:
• compare the detected concentration of the chemical agent magnesium chloride with a threshold concentration value, and inject an additional volume of the chemical agent magnesium chloride into the solution when the detected concentration is below the threshold concentration value.

A method of snow conversion comprising:

• clearing the snow, via a plow, from an access surface and directing the snow, via the plow, to a conveyor apparatus fluidly connected to a mixing tank;
• transferring the snow, via an electronic controller in operative communication with the conveyor apparatus, into the mixing tank;
• injecting, in response to the transferring of the snow, via the electronic controller in operative communication with a fluid delivery arrangement, a magnesium chloride into the mixing tank to combine the magnesium chloride with the transferred snow and melt the transferred snow, and thereby generate a solution of the melted snow and the magnesium chloride having a freezing point lower than water;
• agitating and mixing, via the electronic controller in operative communication with a mixer, the transferred snow and the injected magnesium chloride in the mixing tank to further facilitate melting of the snow in the mixing tank;
• activating, via the electronic controller, an auxiliary heating element arranged inside the mixing tank to add thermal energy to the solution of melted snow and magnesium chloride and thereby enhance a rate of melting of the snow in the mixing tank;
• activating, via the electronic controller, an auxiliary injection arrangement to inject iron oxide into the mixing tank to react with magnesium in the injected magnesium chloride and thereby generate an exothermic chemical reaction to further enhance the rate of melting of the snow in the mixing tank;
• and
• dispensing, via the electronic controller in operative communication with a fluid nozzle in fluid communication with the mixing tank, the solution of melted snow and the magnesium chloride onto the access surface to thereby provide de-icing and anti-icing of the access surface.