Field Trip Report: Ice Plant Visit
Introduction
On November 7, 2024, our esteemed course teacher guided us
on a field trip to the Nanjil Traders Ice Plant located in Enayam,
Kanyakumari. The college campus is approximately 500 meters from
the ice plant, making it a convenient location for our visit. We
departed from the college around 3 p.m. and arrived at the
destination within five to ten minutes.
Equipment in an Ice Plant
Compressor
Condenser
Receiver
Accumulator
Oil Separator
Water Pumping System
Agitator
Mother Tank
Ice Moldings
Mechanism of Equipment in an Ice Plant
Compressor
The compressor is crucial in the refrigeration cycle. It takes low-
pressure refrigerant vapor from the evaporator and compresses it
into high-pressure vapor. This process increases the temperature of
the refrigerant, allowing it to move to the condenser for cooling.
Condenser
The condenser cools and condenses the high-pressure vapor from the
compressor into a liquid state. It does this by transferring heat from
the refrigerant to the surrounding air or water, effectively changing
the refrigerant's phase from gas to liquid[3][5]. This cooled liquid
then flows to the receiver.
Receiver
The receiver acts as a storage tank for the high-pressure liquid
refrigerant coming from the condenser. It ensures that there is a
steady supply of liquid refrigerant available for the next stage of the
refrigeration cycle, which is critical for maintaining consistent ice
production
Accumulator
The accumulator serves as a safeguard in the system. It collects
excess refrigerant vapor that may not have been condensed in the
receiver, preventing it from entering the evaporator. This ensures
that only liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator, optimizing cooling
efficiency
Oil Separator
The oil separator is essential for maintaining lubrication within the
system. It separates oil from the refrigerant vapor returning to the
compressor, ensuring that only clean refrigerant enters while
directing oil back into the compressor for lubrication purposes
Water Pumping System
The water pumping system is responsible for circulating water
throughout the ice-making process. Water is drawn from a storage
tank and pumped into the evaporator where it is cooled and
eventually freezes into ice. After freezing, any unconverted water
returns to the storage tank for recirculation
Agitator
The agitator mixes water within tanks or molds to ensure uniform
freezing and prevent ice from sticking together. This helps in
producing clear and consistent ice shapes by promoting even
distribution of temperature throughout the water
Mother Tank
The mother tank serves as a reservoir for water before it enters the
ice-making process. This tank holds a sufficient volume of water,
ensuring that there is always enough supply for continuous ice
production. It also allows for temperature stabilization before water
moves to other components
Ice Moldings
Ice moldings are used to shape ice into specific forms, such as cubes
or blocks. Water flows into these molds where it freezes due to
contact with cold surfaces or brine solutions. Once frozen,
mechanisms like hot gas or agitation help release the ice from molds
for storage or packaging.
Each of these components works together in a systematic manner to
ensure efficient and continuous ice production in an ice plant,
utilizing principles of refrigeration and heat exchange effectively.
Field visit Knowledge Student Experiences
Ice Production Process
The owner first led the students to the compressor system,
where he detailed the functions of the compressor, condenser, oil
separator, and receiver. He guided us to the ice production area and
explained several key processes:
1) Refrigerant and Water filling: The process begins with
manually filling primary refrigerant ammonia gas into the
compressor, which serves as a secondary refrigerant. The handling
of ammonia is crucial due to its Toxic nature.
2) Refrigerant transport: The warm gas is mixed with oil before
entering the oil separator, which separates the oil from the gas
and allows only air to pass into the condenser.
3) Cooling Process: Water is pumped from a submerged motor and
falls onto the condenser coil, cooling the warm gases state
refrigerant. The cold gas then moves to the receiver.
4) Water Circulation: An agitator circulates water in a zigzag
manner, facilitating quicker freezing.
5) Freezing Time: It takes approximately 18-24 hours for one block
of ice to freeze completely at a temperature of -13.5°C.
6) Brine Solution: The ice mold is placed inside a brine solution
container, which enhances freezing efficiency as it acts as a
primary refrigerant.
Conclusion
This field trip provided us with a deeper understanding of
freezing technology and ice plant operations. We gained familiarity
with essential equipment used in ice production and learned about
safety practices related to ammonia gas handling. Overall, it was an
enriching experience that enhanced our academic knowledge and
practical skills in refrigeration technology.
Report Prepared By: [THE BOYS]
Course: FS-206.Freezing.Technology.
Date of Submission: [14/11/24]
