Dry Ice Blasting Equipment: Machines, Nozzles, Hoses, and Compressors
A complete look at the hardware behind a dry ice blasting job — single-hose vs. two-hose systems, nozzle geometry, hose length limits, and how to size the compressor.
Dry ice blasting hardware is simple in principle: a hopper meters pellets into a compressed-air stream that carries them to a nozzle. The engineering that matters lives in how the pellets are metered, how far they can be conveyed, and how the nozzle shapes the stream.
Single-hose vs. two-hose systems
Single-hose machines inject pellets directly into the pressurized air line, so pellet and air velocity are identical at the nozzle. That gives higher impact energy, longer hose runs, and better performance on hard contamination. Two-hose systems carry air and pellets separately and combine them at the applicator; they run at lower pressure and are used for delicate work and shorter runs. Most industrial contractors run single-hose.
Nozzle selection
- Round venturi — highest energy density; carbon, coatings, weld slag
- Flat fan — wide coverage on large flat surfaces; lower energy per square inch
- Angled and extended nozzles — reach behind windings, fins, and tube bundles
- Laval / supersonic — maximum velocity for the hardest deposits
Compressed air is the real constraint
Most industrial nozzles want 150–350 CFM at 80–150 psi. Undersized air is the most common reason a job underperforms — the machine will still run, but pellet velocity drops and cleaning rate falls off a cliff. Air must also be dry and oil-free; moisture in the line will freeze pellets into clumps and jam the feed.
- 185 CFM towable compressor — light general work, one operator
- 375 CFM — the workhorse size for most industrial jobs
- 750–900 CFM — multiple operators or high-consumption coating removal
Hose runs and staging
Single-hose systems commonly reach 100–300 ft of blast hose, which is what makes in-place cleaning of turbine decks, ceilings, and tank interiors practical without moving the machine. Every additional 50 ft costs some pressure, so stage the machine as close as access and CO₂ ventilation allow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need three-phase power?+
No. The blasting machine itself typically runs on 115 V single phase; the compressor is usually diesel and self-contained.
What size compressor do I need?+
For most industrial work, a 375 CFM / 150 psi unit. Confirm against the machine's nozzle chart before mobilizing.
How long can the blast hose be?+
Single-hose systems routinely run 100–300 ft. Two-hose systems are limited to much shorter runs.
See what we clean and how it is sequenced on our equipment cleaning pages.
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