 Recommended Equipment for
Concrete Cooling Applications
From field experience it requires about 7 pounds of ice to lower the temperature of a cubic yard of concrete mix 1°F or 7.5 kilos of ice to reduce the temperature of one cubic meter 1°C. A concrete batch mixer is normally charged with ingredients, mixed completely, discharged, and ready for the next batch in 60 to 120 seconds. The ice must be uniformly and accurately added to each batch within 5 to 20 seconds, melted into water, and have its chilling effect on the complete mix before the batch is discharged from the mixer.
The best method to meet this demand is with a North Star automatic ice plant that manufactures ice 24 hours a day, stores it in an insulated bin, and delivers it when needed to the weigh hopper at the concrete batching plant. Depending on the configuration, a buffer tank above the weigh hopper could be used to ensure the free flow of ice for very quick charging cycles.
The size of the ice plant depends upon several factors: The total amount of concrete to be cooled; hourly, daily and weekly pour rate; specified concrete placing temperature; availability and temperature of the local water supply; and the ambient dry and wet bulb temperatures. Contact North Star for assistance in specifying an ice plant for your project.
North Star ice plants offer these advantages:
- Consistent cooling control in first mix of the day and in each succeeding mix throughout the day.
- Short start-up time. No waiting for containments and iron to cool, or for pumps and compressors to come on line.
- If there is a delay in concrete production for any reason, North Star sub-cooled ice does not lose its cool. Chilled aggregate will pick up heat if not immediately used.
- As temperatures increase during the day, cooling requirements also increase proportionately. The amount of ice added to the mix can be easily adjusted to meet these changing requirements.
- North Star ice makers produce ice 30% more efficiently in terms of energy and horsepower savings than any other ice maker manufactured. There are over 17,000 square feet of heat transfer surface in a ton of North Star flake ice available for heat absorption.
SYSTEM OPTIONS
Mobile Flake Ice Plants - Complete ice systems installed in 40-foot containers. Each ice plant combines factory-installed North Star flake ice makers in a dry-box container and an automatic ice storage system installed in a separate refrigerated reefer container. When the containers are combined, the ice drops directly into the storage bin equipped with a North Star ice rake. The rake levels the ice in the container as it is made, using all available storage volume, and discharges it automatically upon demand. Mobile flake ice plants are particularly useful in remote locations and can be moved from one project site to another.
North also offers ice plants for concrete cooling projects with the following components:
Carbon Steel Flake Ice Makers – Proven and dependable equipment for producing large volumes of superior sub-cooled flake ice. Stainless steel ice makers are also available.
Storage Options
Delivery Systems – Screw conveyors to move ice from storage bin to weigh hopper.
Buffer Tanks – Live bottom tanks to provide temporary storage for up to 2 tons (1.8 MT) of flake ice. Designed to provide even ice flow and quick charging cycles.
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