Abstract:
A heat exchanger for an ice-making machine comprises a generally cylindrical, tubular body defining a generally cylindrical, internal heat exchange surface, and at least one refrigerant circuit comprising at least one refrigerant passage disposed about the outer surface of the tubular body, at least a portion of the refrigerant circuit being brazed to the outer surface of the tubular body.
Abstract:
An ice storage and distribution unit includes an ice storage and separation vessel (12) for storing a slurry of ice and solution and separating the ice from the solution. An inlet slurry of ice and solution is introduced into the ice storage and separation vessel (12) through an ice slurry inlet (14). The slurry separates into a bed of ice (17) and a liquid bath of solution (19) in the vessel (12). An agitator (30) is disposed within the vessel (12) for agitating the bed of ice (17) to obtain substantially free-flowing ice. Ice is then discharged from the vessel (12) through an ice outlet (40).
Abstract:
A method of cooling foodstuff comprises immersing at least one perforated container containing foodstuff into an ice slurry bath for a period of time sufficient to allow ice slurry to enter the at least one perforated container and then subsequently removing the at least one perforated container from the ice slurry bath. Various apparatuses for cooling foodstuff are also provided.
Abstract:
A storage unit comprises a casing defining an interior space for holding at least one item, a thermal element lining an interior surface of at least one side of the casing, and at least one thermal battery thermally coupled to the thermal element.
Abstract:
A sensor assembly (50) for detecting ice crystal formation on a heat exchange surface in an ice-making machine (12) comprises at least one microphone (100) monitoring the sound made by a rotating blade assembly within the ice-making machine during ice slurry formation. A filter (104) filters the output of the microphone to remove background noise. A comparator (106) receives the output of the filter and compares the filtered microphone output with a threshold to determine if the filtered microphone output signifies ice crystal formation on the heat exchange surface. The operation of the ice-making machine (12) can then be adjusted in a manner to allow the formed ice crystals to be removed from the heat exchange surface.
Abstract:
A method and system for delivering aqueous ice slurry is disclosed. In one embodiment, the ice slurry delivery system (10) includes a storage tank (12) having an inlet (20) to receive an aqueous ice slurry from an ice generating unit. A circulation loop (14) is connected to the storage tank (12). Ice slurry held in the storage tank (12) flows through the circulation loop (14) generally continuously at a first rate. Valved discharge points (16) are located along the circulation loop at spaced locations and are operable to re-direct some of the ice slurry flowing through the circulation loop (14) to deliver ice slurry for end use upon demand. The rate of flow of ice slurry through the discharge points (16) is less than the first rate even when all of the discharge points are re-directing ice slurry for end use.
Abstract:
A shipping and/or storage container comprising: a container body defining an interior space to accommodate a payload and coolant, the container body comprising an outer shell, an inner shell accommodated by said outer shell, a space between the inner and outer shells, and insulating material accommodated by the space between the inner and outer shells, the space between the inner and outer shells being evacuatable to bring the inner and outer shells towards one another and compress the insulating material thereby to form a generally continuous vacuum insulating panel structure, the container body further comprising at least sealable opening to expose the interior space to facilitate placement and/or removal of the payload.
Abstract:
An ice-making machine (10) includes a housing (12) having a brine solution inlet to receive brine solution from which ice is to be made and having an ice-brine slurry outlet to permit the egress of an ice-brine slurry from the housing. A heat exchanger within the housing has a heat exchange surface (30). The heat exchanger further includes a refrigerant inlet, a refrigerant outlet and at least one refrigerant circuit (32) interconnecting the refrigerant inlet and the refrigerant outlet to permit a flow of refrigerant through the heat exchanger to extract heat from the brine solution contacting the heat exchange surface. The at least one refrigerant circuit is constituted by refrigerant passages (34) integrally formed in a body portion of the housing. A blade assembly (90) within the housing carries a plurality of blades each of which is in contact with the heat exchange surface. The blade assembly is mounted on a shaft (80) which is rotatable by a motor to move the blades across the heat exchange surface to remove cooled fluid therefrom and inhibit the deposition of ice crystals on the heat exchange surface.
Abstract:
An apparatus for cooling fish on board a ship is provided. This apparatus includes an ice-making machine (12) for producing fine particles of ice in a brine solution. Coupled to this ice-making machine are means (20) for directing ice from the machine to either a vessel (22) containing brine solution or to a catch (24) of fish. A method of cooling fish comprising producing a slurry of fine particles in brine solution in an ice-making zone and directing the fine ice particles onto either a catch (24) of fish or into a vessel (22) containing brine solution is also provided.
Abstract:
A storage tank comprises: a body having opposite open ends; end plates removably connected to the opposite open ends of the body, one of the end plates comprising an inlet and an outlet; and a piston floatably mounted within the body. The piston is movable towards the end plate having the inlet and the outlet during discharge of ice-slurry contained within the storage tank via the outlet.