Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-15
CHEAP SUBSTITUTE FOR ICE.
The Distribution OF RefriGeration In Cities
from Central Stations.

The distribution of refrigeration
from central stations through pipe
lines is discussed by John +. Starr in
the Engineering Magazine. Some OF the
purposes to which this system is ap-
plicable are thus mentioned:
The principal hotels and restaurants
and down town butcher shops in st.
Louis and Denver are using this system
in their storage boxes. But the appli-
cations of the system do not end here.
In many hotels, cafes and saloons Ice IS
required for water pitchers and 10
crack up for mixing beverages. In such
cases a miniature brine tank is provided
through which the expansion COILS
connecting with the pipe line are run.
Molds of suitable size are placed In the
brine, and the operation OF ice-making
is carried on just as at the large ice
factory. Where small amounts OF Ice
are needed for cracking up small In
Sulated reservoir is provided and the
expansion pipes are placed close to the
sides. Water is then poured into the
reservoir and ice forms on the expan-
sion coils and extends towards the
center of the reservoir until solid
mass is frozen. This is Clipped as de-
sired, and new water added from time
TO time.
Another important branch of the bus
mess is supplying cold water for large
stores, factories and offices. The install
lation for this service consists OF
water-tight insulated tank, having at
the bottom a coil through which the
bydraat water is passed on its way TO
the taps. About a foot OF water is
poured in on top Of this coil, aud just
underneath the surface OF this water
the expansion pipes are placed. A sheet
of ice five or six inches thick
is formed by the action OF
tho expansion coil, thus keeping
the water coils constantly surrounded
with ice water of low temperature. The
city water SO cooled may be then car
ried by insulated piping to taps in any
portion OF the building. Some large In
stallations of this kind are In success
full operation. The cooling Of soda wa
ter fountains is effected in the same
way. The manufacture of ice cream Is
also more easily accomplished by the aid
of this system. Other branches Of bu-
siness are also supplied, as the manu-
iacture of perfumes and chocolate con-
| fections.
Among the Injuries furnished by this
system may be mentioned the cooling OF
! living-rooms, which, in such climate
as that of st. Louis, proves a great lux
ury. The refrigerating. company there
started in with contracts TO reduce the
temperature of cafes and dining-rooms
| 90 degrees below the outside tempera-
ture. No difficulty was found in cheap
! ly reducing the temperature even to
| lower point than this, but sanitary con-
! siderations and the comfort OF the
freouenters OF such places determined
that a difference of from 10 to 10
degrees between the inside and
the outside temperature was the most
satisfactory. 1t is interesting TO note
that the same piping used for the am
monis cooling service in the summer is
used for steam heating purposes In the
winter. IL happens that in neither
Denver nor st. Louis do the pipe lines
reach any OF the hospitals, though the
benefit OF their use in such institutions
is apparent.
Figures are given to show that this
service is less costly than the shipping
OF ice and that it can be operated profit
ably in towns having 10000 or more in
| habi.ants.