The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1893-05-16
A Cheap Substitute for Ice.

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A Cheap Substitute for Ice.
The distribution of refrigeration
from central stations through
pipe lines is discussed by John E.
Starr in the Engineering Magazine.
Some of the purposes to which this
system is applicable are thus mention
ed: The principal hotels and restaur-
ants and downtown butcher-shops in
st. Louis and Denver are using system
in their storage-boxes. But the app
locations of the system do not end
here. In many hotels, cafes, and sal
oons, ice is required for water-pitchers
and to crack up for mixing beverages.
In such cases miniature brine-tank is
provided, through which the expan-
sion coils connecting with the pipe
ling are run. Molds of suitable size
are placed in the brine, and the oper-
alton of ice-making is carried on just
as at the large refractory. When
small amounts of ice are needed for
cracking up, a small, insulated reser.
voir is provided and the expansion
pipes are placed close to the side.
Water is then poured into the reser-
voir, and ice forms on the expansion
coils and extends towards the center
of the reservoir until solid mass is
frozen. This is Clipped out as desired
and new water added from time to
time.
Another important branch of the
business is supplying cold water for
large stores, factories and offices. The
installation for the service consists of
a watertight insulated tank, having at
the bottom coil through which the
hydrant water is passed on its way to
the taps. About foot of water is
poured in on top of this coil, and 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 the expansion
coil, thus keeping..the water coils con-
stantly surrounded with icewater of
low temperature. The city water so
cooled may be then carried by insulat-
cd piping to taps to any portion of
the building. Some large installat-
Joni of this..kind are in successful OPP
Grafton. The cooling of soda-water
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
businas are also supplied. as.the man
ufacture Of perfumes and chocolate
CONNECTIONS.
Among the luxuries furnished by
this system may be mentioned the
cooling Of living-rooms, which, in
such climate as that of st. Louis,
proves great luxury. The refrig-
Grating company there started in with
contracts to reduce the temperature
of cafes and dining-rooms twenty de-
grees below the outside temperature.
No difficulty was found in cheaply re-
aucing the temperature even to a
lower point than this, but sanitary
and the comfort of the
frequenters of such places, determined
that difference of from ten to fifteen
degrees between the inside and the
outside temperature was the most
satisfactory. 1t is interesting to note
that the same piping used tor the
cooling service in the sum-
mer is used for the steam-heating pur-
pose in the winter. 1t happens that
in neither Denver or st. Louis do the
pipelin es 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 1t can be operated pro-
fitably in towns having 10000 or
more inhabitants.