Designed by the Le Maitre Pyrotechnics and Special Effects company in England, the "Peasouper" smoke effect machine creates a low lying fog for stage and other effects uses. It uses a cage of dry ice pellets which are lowered into a bath of hot water (which is kept hot via an internal heating element). The dry ice (frozen/solid carbon dioxide) sublimates into a dense heavy "smoke" which lasts a short while until it dissipates into the atmosphere. The effect creates a rolling cloud of low lying fog which will follow the ground to the lowest point, "rolling" over stairs, stage fronts and other obstacles.
The Peasouper is a traditional dry ice smoke machine. The unit’s 9 kg dry ice capacity gives approximately 5 minutes of fog production. The flow rate is controlled by a four-step ratchet system which allows output variation through the front nozzle. A ducting adaptor and ducting hose are available for this nozzle.
Dry ice, which can be purchased from various suppliers around the country, is solid carbon dioxide. When heated it sublimates directly from a solid to a gas that is heavier than air, thus creating a low lying blanket of fog which is odourless and non-toxic, producing an atmospheric 'walking on clouds' effect.