Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-04-08

Artificial Ice.-Experiments in artiti-
cial production OF ice have been made
within few years, in Europe and
America, which have resulted, finally,
in developing process, or processes,
by which very superior article is now
made. In New Orleans artificial ice is
made, which, aside from its excellence
as a commodity of naturalice, is manu-
factured at such reduced costs as to dis
pense with the shipment of natural ice
10 that market in large degree. At
the Louisiana Ice Works in New Orleans
an improved method is now in use for
the manufacture OF ice. In strong
iron cooler a given quantity OF liquid
ammonia is introduced; and by the
means of a slow fire the ammonia gas
is held in solution in the water, and
conveyed into series of iron worms
which are surrounded by constant
current of water. The gas, running
through the worms, becomes liquetied
by the action Of the running water and
the pressure of the boiler, and flows
into a receiver. From the latter the
liquefied gas flows into a series of
worms, which constitute the refrigera-
tor or freezing bath, where, by rapid
evaporation. extreme cold is produced.
TO utilize this cold, the iron worms
are surrounded by strong solution of
common salt, which absOrbs all the cold
produced in the worms. Placed in
the spaces between the worms are sus-
pended forms, or moulds, of any size
desired, filled with pure water, This
water Immediately a5sorbs the cold
from the salt bath, and the result Is the
formation of ice. 1t has been
demonstrated that ether can be
made to evaporize so speedily as to
produce intense cold, and if, when COW
cred with water, its evaporation be as
sisted, it will escape SO quickly as TO
lower the temperature of the water to
freezing point. Hence ether Is often
used in preparing freezing mixtures !;
and a machine has recently been con-
structed for making ice by means of the
remarkable property above alluded to.
The apparatus as described consists of
an engine and air-pump, combined on
the same bed-piate, refrigerator, and
ether condenser, circulating pump,
and one or more ice-boxes according to
the quality required-a steam engine
supplying the motive power. The two
lulCL passages VI Iuc ar pump are COLI
nected by copper pipe that places them
in communication with the refrigerator,
which is felt-coVered vessel of cylin-
drical shape, the tubes being made of
copper and rlveted to brass-end plates,
The two outward valves on the other
side of the air pump communicate with
the ether condenser. The whole is i'm
mersed in wooden tank, through
which a stream of water constantly
passes for cooling and condensing the
ether vapor. A vacuum is maintained
by the air pump in the refrigerator, ev-
aporizing the ether at low tempera-
ture. This operation causes an absorp-
ton of heat, which reduces the temper
ture of strong brine that is made to
circulate through the tubes and ice box
The latter is tank of red deal, varnish-
ed inside, with partitions whith holes
in them to allow a slow circulation of
the brine. Zinc moulds of different
widths, according 10 the shapes OF the
blocks of ice required, are filled with
pure water and suspended between the
partitions.