Process Description
Process Description
The function of ice plant or ice factory is to make or form ice in large quantity and in
large size. The ice making process is quite similar to the one we observe in a domestic
refrigerator. The only different lies in the ice making the stage. In freezer compartment,
the tray with water when comes in contact with very low-temperature environment
becomes ice but in ice plant which is a huge commercial factory uses separate ice
making or ice freezing circuit. The cold is produced in one circuit and it is transferred to
the water cans by another circuit.
1. Ammonia: It is primary refrigerant which takes heat from brine. This ammonia
changes phase while moving in the circuit.
2. Brine: It is secondary refrigerant which takes heat from the water and produces ice.
2. Cooling water circuit: Cooling water as working medium to remove the heat of
condenser
3. Brine circuit: Brine solution as working medium which transfers the cold from
ammonia to water filled cans where ice is to be formed.
Construction
Compressor: Its function is to increase the temperature and pressure of
Ammonia vapor coming out from evaporator.
Throttle Valve: It expands Ammonia coming out from receiver to low pressure.
Evaporator: It vaporize the liquid Ammonia from throttle valve by extracting heat
from 'brine' and hence brine gets cooled and this brine solution is recirculated to
water tank containing 'ice cans filled with water' to absorb the heat of water to
freeze it and make ice.
Working
Low pressure and low-temperature Ammonia coming out from the throttle valve
is vaporized by taking the latent heat from the brine. Hence brine gets cooled
which is circulated in the brine circuit to freeze the water and forming an ice from
water.
This cooled brine further absorbs the heat from water and converts water to ice.