Pea Souper

Designed by the Le Maitre Pyrotechnics and Special Effects company in England , the Pea Souper 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 Pea Souper is a traditional dry ice smoke machine. The unit’s 9 kilograms (20 lb) 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, 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.