GEA Grasso Philippines & block ice plant
Block ice as one of the most used ice form has many reasons. Its form allows an easy handIing. It can be easily transported for a long distance without refrigerated vehicles. In most cases ice storage is not necessary because the ice-can with block ice inside can be kept immersed in the brine so long until its delivery/transport. In addition to (sea-) food cooling, it is still used for direct consumption because the block ice hygiene has improved in the recent years.
The method of making block ice consists of immersing cans filled with water in a bath of low temperature brine. The brine circulates by means of agitators through an ice generator tank and is cooled by a submersion type evaporator (herring bone, etc.). The temperatur of the brine causes the water in the ice cans to freeze into solid blocks. After the freezing process, which takes in general a day (very depending on the size of the block), the ice cans are lifted from the generator tank by means of a crane and immersed in a thawing tank filled with warm water (23-28 C) where the ice is released from the ice cans. A tipping device unloads the blocks for delivery/transport. The cans are refilled with water from a filling device and are carried back to the generator tank to start the freezing cycle again.
GEA Grasso Philippines offers a complete range of block ice plants using the natural refrigerant NH3, with all necessary equipment, ranging from 10 to 152 tons of ice per 24 hours. We can advise you on plant building layouts, room sizes, equipment location, required insulation thickness, and other valuable construction data for the most economical operation.
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