Method for continuous production of ice cubes - uses hygroscopic properties of zeolite contained in cartridges

摘要

The method for the continuous production of ice cubes is carried out by a pump (7) connected through a valve (9) and a zeolite cartridge (1) to a vertically arranged heat pipe (3). The pump produces a partial vacuum inside the heat pipe, which causes some of the water in the heat pipe to evaporate. The low pressure steam thus formed is drawn through the zeolite cartridge where it is absorbed and then heated by the heat exchanger (6). The cartridge is one of a group mounted in a rotating drum which brings a second cartridge (2) into use as required. The low pressure steam is used to regenerate the previously used second cartridge. The evaporation of some of the water in the heat pipe causes the remaining water to freeze and the ice cube thus formed is expelled by the sliding rod (4) through the valve (78). USE/ADVANTAGE - Continuous production of ice cubes by a low energy method.