 | | MaximICE ORE-25 |  | | MaximICE ORE-400 |
MaximICE® Ice Slurry System The MaximICE system consists of three major components: - MaximICE orbital rod evaporator-ORE
- Compressor/condenser unit
- Ice storage tank
Process Description
- A freeze depressant solution is pumped from the storage tank to the top of the MaximICE Ice Slurry Generator and is gravity fed through the tube side.
- Liquid refrigerant is supplied to the shell side of the evaporator from the condensing unit where it removes heat from the solution.
- As heat is removed, some of the water is frozen out of the solution, resulting in ice slurry which is either gravity fed or pumped to the top of the storage tank.
- Low temperature solution is pumped from the bottom of the tank to the cooling load.
- The warm solution is returned from the cooling load and is sprayed on the ice stored in the tank. This is accomplished using one or more spray nozzles evenly spaced to cover the ice surface.
- In the storage tank, the warm solution is cooled as the stored ice absorbs heat and provides a low-temperature heat sink to the cooling load.
Note: Normally, a plate heat exchanger isolates the storage tank from the cooling load.
MaximICE Advantages
Mueller's MaximICE Ice Slurry System offers several advantages over conventional static ice or dynamic ice harvester systems:
Energy Efficient
Unlike static ice systems where ice adheres to the heat transfer surface, ice slurry produced by the MaximICE ice slurry generator does not adhere to any heat transfer area, resulting in higher energy efficiency.
Unlike ice harvesters, no defrost is required to harvest the ice for storage into tanks, resulting in higher energy efficiency.
Simplified Tank Design
Ice slurry can be pumped into storage tanks, reducing the need for extra structural support required for ice harvesters located above the storage tanks.
Storage Flexibility
Ice slurry can be stored in tanks of any shape. As an example, the height of an ice storage tank can be increased, resulting in a reduction of the tank footprint which leads to valuable floor space savings. This is difficult to achieve in static and other dynamic ice storage systems.
Application Flexibility
Offers lower supply water temperature compared to other ice systems.
Space Saving Design
Compact equipment design offers space savings in the refrigeration equipment room.
Satisfies Large Loads
Large loads for a short duration can be met by ice slurry systems due to the quick melting of ice achieved by a large area of contact between the warm return solution and stored ice.
Ease of Modification
Allows easy modification and expansion of the system as conditions change.
For example:
- Facility expansion may occur.
- Facility use and need may change.
- Utility rate may change.
Pumped Slurry Systems
The Mueller MaximICE Thermal Energy Storage System can use a mixture of water and a freeze depressant to produce a non-toxic, pumpable ice slurry.
MaximICE Schematic of Operation  |
