The MSD sandwich-type steaming hood that is now put into operation in Alicante is the first MSD steaming hood of this type on the Iberian Peninsula. Due to the innovative spiked hood technology allowing both surface and deep steaming at the same time, it is now possible to increase the steam quantity that penetrates into the soil even by 50%.
As the result, the energy cost and steaming time are significantly reduced once more.
At favourable conditions (dry and not too loamy soil, etc.), the new spiked hoods from MSD Corp. allow the temperature to be increased to about 85-90°C at even 20 cm depth in 10 minutes. This requires merely about 8.5kg steam/sq. m. After the treatment, the soil is sanitised without chemicals and residues.
Thus due to the heating oil prices, which currently remain low, 1 sq. m of soil can be treated with steam and completely liberated from pathogens, exhausting and weeds at 20 cm depth for only 30 cents heating cost (or 3,000 euros/hectare).
In Spain, the spiked hood can be easily moved by a mini excavator at low labour expenses. All in all, about 1,800 sq. m are monthly treated with this efficient steaming system. In this way, the company can also sanitise up to 4.000 sq. m monthly using a second spiked hood with the available MSD high-performance boiler of type S 750.