SMI equipment was first used for evaporation at a gold mine site in Nevada (USA) to help solve a water problem at the mine.  A clever engineer who understood the process of water phase changes in freezing, evaporation and sublimation had borrowed an SMI snowmaking machine from a local ski area to help evaporate dirty water.

This SnowStream used a high speed propeller to fracture water into small particles and enhance evaporation. Although the SS320 was designed for use below 30°F and for up to 2,000 hours per year, the Nevada mine was extremely pleased with the results after running over 5,000 hours in conditions ranging from 0°F up to 110°F. A typical spray nozzle was about 10% effective in most conditions, whereas the SS320 was achieving evaporation rates closer to 25-to-60%. The evaporation process is similar to the snowmaking process, but exactly the opposite.

Snowmaking effectiveness increases as temperature and humidity decrease. Evaporation effectiveness increases as the temperature increases and the relative humidity decreases.

SMI recognized the market potential and possible opportunities for a specially designed product only for the mining market. We redesigned the SnowStream 320 to address specific mining and other industrial processing problems. The system was designed for use only in “mining/industrial processing industries,” but you can believe it when we tell you that mines are tougher on our equipment than ski areas by a big factor. We renamed the product the 320 Evaporator. This product has continued to evolve and is now the 420 Evaporator.

Since then, SMI has greatly expanded our products and services. Today, SMI Evaporative Solutions produces durable industrial evaporation systems designed for different environments and operating conditions. SMI is known for designing and customizing our equipment and systems to meet our customers’ needs.

We offer complete solutions from initial analysis of the site conditions to full delivery, installation and start-up. Below is a list of services:

• Site analysis and system recommendation
• System design and engineering
• Equipment
• Evaporators
• Pumps and water supply
• Electrical supply
• Automation
• Valves and sensors
• Project supervision
• Installation, start-up and commissioning