초록 ▼

The invention is a method for making ice in a container the side walls of which are cooled to cool a solution of less than eutectic concentration to form ice crystals wherein the sides of the container are continuously mechanically scoured at a rate that prevents the formation of ice crystals on the

The invention is a method for making ice in a container the side walls of which are cooled to cool a solution of less than eutectic concentration to form ice crystals wherein the sides of the container are continuously mechanically scoured at a rate that prevents the formation of ice crystals on the wall of the container when the heat exchange relation of the solution with the side of the chamber is at least 4000 BTU's per square foot of container side.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A continuous method for making ice in a container having a wall and means for continuously cooling said wall of the container comprising the steps of: making a solution wherein the solvent is water, the solute is nontoxic and the initial concentration is less than the eutectic concentration;

1. A continuous method for making ice in a container having a wall and means for continuously cooling said wall of the container comprising the steps of: making a solution wherein the solvent is water, the solute is nontoxic and the initial concentration is less than the eutectic concentration; containing the solution within said container, the solution beingin heat exchange relation with the said wall of the container; continuously cooling the wall of the container to cool the layer of solution immediately adjacent the side wall below its freezing point with a refrigerant; continuously moving a blade across and in contact with the wall of the container to carry the cooled layer of mixture at said wall towards the centre of the container; the rate of movement of the blade across the wall of the container being fast enough to carry the cooled layer of solution at the wall towards the centre of the container as aforesaid before the cooled layer is crystalized into a layer of ice whereby to maintain the temperature of the mixture substantially uniformly throughout the container below its freezing point and form water ice crystals of harvestable size suspended throughout the body of the mixture in the container; harvesting formed ice crystals from suspension in said solution; and continuously replenishing said solution in said chamber as said water ice crystals are removed. 2. A continuous method for making ice crystals as claimed in claim 1 wherein the harvesting of said ice crystals is effected by pumping said solution with its ice crystals in suspension from said container and mechanically separating and removing the ice crystals, the rate of forming of ice crystals being at a speed to cause their formation in the container as the solution is continuously pumped as aforesaid, the said solution after separation of the ice therefrom being returned to said container. 3. A continuous method for making ice crystals as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solution replenished by adding make-up solution adjusted to duplicate the initial concentration thereto to replace solution removed therefrom by the removal of said water ice crystals. 4. A continuous method for making ice cyrstals as claimed in claim 1 wherein said solution is brine. 5. A continuous method for making ice crystals as claimed in claim 4 wherein the harvesting of said ice crystals is effected by pumping said solution with its ice crystals in suspension from said container, and mechanically separating and removing the ice crystals, the rate of forming of ice crystals being at a speed to cause their formation in the container as the mixture is continuously pumped as aforesaid, the said solution after separation of the ice therefrom being returned to said container. 6. A continuous method for making ice crystals as claimed in claim 4 wherein said solution is replenished by adding make-up solution adjusted to duplicate the initial concentration thereto to replace mixture removed therefrom by the removal of said water ice crystals. 7. A method of continuously forming ice from a body of solution located within a container wherein the solvent is water, the solute is non toxic and the initial concentration is less than the eutectic concentration comprising the steps of passing a portion of said solution across a cooled surface of said container to extract heat from said portion and maintain the temperature of the solution at the cooled surface below the freezing point of the water in said solution, removing said portion from said surface by moving a blade across and in contact with said surface prior to deposition of a layer of crystalised water on said surface and distributing said portion throughout said body of mixture by continued movement of said blade to maintain said body of solution at a substantially uniform temperature below said freezing point within said container to promote crystalisation of water substantially uniformly thoughout said body of solution. 8. A method according to claim 7 including the step of removing said solution and crystalised water from said container and separating said solution and crystalised water. 9. A method according to claim 8 including the step of recirculating solution separated from said crystalised water to said container. 10. A method according to claim 9 including the step of adding water to the recirculated solution to restore the relative proportions of solvent and solute to that of the solution prior to formation of the crystalised water. 11. A method according to claim 10 including the step of maintaining the temperature of said portion at said cooled surface at not more than 1 degree centigrade below the freezing point of water in said solution. 12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the temperature of said portion is maintained at not more than 0.2 degrees centigrade below the freezing point of water in said solution. 13. A method according to claim 7 wherein said surface is cooled at a rate of at least 4000 BTU's per square foot per hour. 14. A method according to claim 7 wherein the solute is selected from the group comprising salt, glycerine, propylene glycol, ethanol or calcium chloride. 15. A method according to claim 7 wherein the interval between successive removals of said portion from said surface is not less than 0.00143 minutes.