Heat Transfer Technology AG

BUCO ICE BANK

The advantage of an Ice Bank is the high cooling capacity for the reduction of peak cooling loads, which can be provided with relatively small refrigeration systems

ICE BANK

Core advantages of our ice bank:

very stable ice water temperature below 1°C up to the end of the process
very high cooling power for peaks
low refrigerant content
safe oil return
stainless steel completely
open design, easy inspection, easy cleaning
use of existing tanks possible

For the best possible quality of food and dairy products, the cooling performance at peak loads must not break. Ice grants the maximum power reserve and safety.

Ice storage efficiency

The operating cost efficiency of the ice storage is based in particular on the ability to either use low-priced night power, often costs only half compared to the normal tariff or limit the maximum power requirements, because this determines the base price of the electricity supplier. Ice storage enables high cooling consumption peaks to be handled even with refrigeration systems that are only designed for the daily average value.

An ice storage system is an innovative energy storage system that can also be used in conjunction with photovoltaic systems to store and use renewable energy. Ice is stored until it is needed to release the stored energy. The ice storage is recharged by using renewable energy such as photovoltaics. A photovoltaic system converts sunlight into electricity and can thus contribute to ice storage. The photovoltaic system provides the electricity needed to cool the water in the ice storage and convert it into ice.

Another advantage of using photovoltaics in conjunction with an ice storage system is that the electricity produced can be used directly on site. This means that grid failures can be avoided and the need for electricity from the grid is reduced. This is particularly advantageous in rural areas where the power supply is not always stable.

The combination of ice storage and photovoltaic systems also offers an excellent opportunity to reduce energy consumption in buildings. The stored energy can be used to lower the room temperature and thus reduce the use of air conditioning. This leads to a reduction in energy consumption and thus also in CO2 emissions. Overall, the use of photovoltaics in combination with ice storage is an innovative and environmentally friendly way to store and use renewable energy. It is expected that this technology will be used more and more in the future to reduce the need for fossil fuels and to promote a sustainable energy supply.

Ice Bank Storage Mode

How does an Ice Bank work?

An ice bank is an innovative system that utilizes frozen water and specifically designed technology to efficiently store and manage thermal energy over extended periods so it can be used whenever needed. With this method, large amounts of energy can be stored inexpensively, making it perfect for projects with high energy demands during the day and low energy tariffs.

Storage mode or ice buildup: In the static ice storage, the evaporator plates are in an open tank filled with water, i. A. in a rectangular tank. Ice freezes, depending on the storage time at an evaporation temperature of -4 to -10 ° C on the vertical plates to a homogeneous layer of up to 55 mm, which firmly adheres to the plates. (static ice storage).

Cooling operation or defrosting phase: The heated return water is distributed via a system of pipes arranged on the bottom of the tank, which ensures homogeneous defrosting of the ice. An air recirculation pipes at the bottom of the tank creates strong turbulence and ensures a very effective heat transfer and thus very low ice water temperatures. The air circulation is energy-saving only when needed, but then automatically. The ice surface is advantageously identical to the plate surface and remains constant until the end of defrosting, which ensures a very high, constant cooling performance.

Using favourable electricity tariffs and avoiding peak loads for cooling with ice storage?

The operating cost efficiency of cooling in the form of ice storage is based in particular on the possibility of either using low-cost electricity/night-time electricity, which often costs only half compared to the normal tariff, or limiting the maximum electricity demand, as this determines the basic price of the electricity supplier.
Ice storage systems offer a unique solution for managing electricity grid loads. They serve as a thermal energy storage system that stores surplus electricity in the form of cold when it is generated by solar or wind power plants. In this way, the capacity of the renewable energy sources can be used again at a later time, so that the load on the power grid remains stable and even. Ice storage plays an essential role in maintaining efficient and effective grid operation, which highlights its importance for sustainability.

Maximum power reserve and safety for constant low ice water temperatures

An ice bank is an innovative system that uses frozen water and specially developed technology to efficiently store and manage thermal energy over long periods of time for use when needed. This method allows large amounts of energy to be stored cost-effectively, making it perfect for projects with high energy demand during the day and low energy tariffs.

Ice storage adapts to very rapidly growing cooling demand. This is true in several respects, in terms of energy consumption, energy costs, investment costs, and availability of space and electricity. Ice storage is an effective and efficient method of energy management. When water freezes, the temperature of the ice remains constant at 0 °C until all the liquid water in the environment is frozen. During this process, the energy associated with freezing is stored in the ice itself in the form of latent heat. This stored energy subsequently becomes available again when the ice melts and can be used for a range of applications such as air conditioning or as a buffer to stabilise electricity grids. Ice storage takes advantage of this physical property of water and allows up to 80 times more energy to be stored than would be possible in liquid water alone.

Ice storage is also and generally a cost-effective and energy-efficient method of cooling processes and buildings during periods of high demand.

Ice storage and photovoltaic systems

An ice storage system is an innovative energy storage system that can also be used in conjunction with photovoltaic systems to store and use renewable energy. Ice is stored until it is needed to release the stored energy. The ice storage is recharged by using renewable energy such as photovoltaics. A photovoltaic system converts sunlight into electricity and can thus contribute to ice storage. The photovoltaic system provides the electricity needed to cool the water in the ice storage and convert it into ice.

The combination of ice storage and photovoltaic systems also offers an excellent opportunity to cool processes or reduce energy consumption in buildings. The stored energy can be used to operate the cooling processes or to lower the room temperature, thus reducing the use of air conditioning. This leads to a reduction in energy consumption and thus CO2 emissions. Overall, the use of photovoltaics in combination with ice storage is an innovative and environmentally friendly way to store and use renewable energy. It is expected that this technology will be used more and more in the future to reduce the need for fossil fuels and to promote a sustainable energy supply.

Ice storage and heat pumps

Industrial ice storage is an effective way to store surplus energy in the form of cold and use it when it is needed. By combining ice storage with heat pumps, companies can achieve significant energy savings. Industrial processes often require a significant amount of energy to maintain the necessary temperatures for production. Usually, fossil fuels or electric heating systems are used for this purpose, which are associated with high energy costs. But there are alternative methods for temperature regulation that are significantly more energy-efficient.

The combination of industrial ice storage and heat pumps can help to reduce energy consumption in industry. For this purpose, surplus energy that is generated during production or at night, for example, is used to fill the ice storage. If thermal energy is then needed, the frozen water in the ice storage is used to drive the heat pump and generate the required thermal energy.

Using industrial ice storage in combination with heat pumps results in significant energy savings for businesses. By using surplus energy in the form of cold to generate heat, the company's energy demand can be significantly reduced. In some cases, combining ice storage with heat pumps can provide energy savings of up to 50 per cent compared to conventional heating and cooling methods.
Industrial production requires a large amount of energy, often derived from fossil fuels. With rising energy costs and growing awareness of climate change, companies are looking for innovative and sustainable energy solutions. One promising technology for energy saving is the combination of industrial ice storage with heat pumps.

Industrial ice storage in combination with heat pumps is a promising technology for energy saving in industrial production. By using cheap night-time electricity and renewable energy source, the company can reduce its energy costs and at the same time reduce its CO2 emissions.

Combination of an ice bank with a falling film chiller as pre-cooler

In tank systems "without" a hot water distribution system (usually with a falling film chiller as a pre-cooler or as a hygienic design), the greatest ice thickness is usually found on the water outlet side. Due to the pre-cooler, which reduces the required ice, the water temperatures entering the ice bank are generally low, but the defrosting at the water inlet is greater than at the outlet. In the case of strongly fluctuating volume flows, a split-tank principle is used. The water is first fed into the lower tank, first into a mixing pipe and then via a circulation pump to the falling film chiller, which should receive a relatively constant volume flow. If the water level of the ice bank is approximately constant, the mixing pipe is open at the top and bottom, allowing both more and less flow to the ice bank, while the circulation pump to the pre-cooler can always deliver the set volume in order to operate the pre-cooler as efficiently and ice-free as possible. The split-tank principle with mixing pipe increases the flexibility of operating data, as is typically desired for ice storage. For the best possible quality of food and dairy products, the cooling capacity must not collapse during peak loads.

Ice thickness measurement for monitoring and controlling the ice thickness

The desired ice thickness can be set via a sensor located between the heat exchanger plates. The sensor transmits the signal to an ice thickness controller. The controller takes over the function of supplying the on/off signal for operation to the refrigeration system. Usually, if the ice storage unit already has an installed refrigeration system from us, then the ice thickness sensor has already been tested. Nevertheless, after longer operation, conditions arise that could not be simulated in the test operation. The ice thickness may have to be readjusted.

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BUCO Ice Bank advantages

Consistently low ice water temperature until the end of the defrost period mainly in dairy use
Ice storage completely made of stainless steel mandatory for dairy applications
Lowest refrigerant content in the refrigeration system
Ice bank with safe oil return
Ice bank as open, easily accessible evaporator system
Ice bank is easy to inspect and clean mandatory for dairy applications
Ice bank with use of existing tanks possible exchanging corroded tubes in the dairy industry
Generate ice water with our BUCO ice storage, which uses low-cost night-time electricity tariffs.

Ice bank refrigeration system?

BUCO Ice bank technical specifications

Ice bank storage size from 50 kWh to 2000 kWh of cooling energy
Refrigeration evaporator for all refrigerants and operating modes or brine operation
Compact, plug-in units or for on-site refrigeration systems

BUCO Ice Bank applications and benefits

Increases peak cooling capacity by ice storage with a smaller refrigeration system in the food, beer and dairy industry
Reduction of power peaks in the power grid in dairy applications
Use of low night tariffs ice storage