The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-09-29
ICE IN SUMNER.
HOW 1T is MADE ARTIFICIALLY
NOWADAYS.
The Industry Is Comparatively New
and Requires Expensive Ma
chincry-COld Produced by
Means of Ammonia.

n
has ice been manufactured on
i commercial scale. The
system used is tue ammonia
process, whereby the well-known cakes
are frozen separately. This is in dis.
tinction from the same principle ap
piled in q totally different way when
the ice is made In large sheets, and
atterward split up into cakes. Upon
entering the engine room the first
things seen are two enormous Corliss
engines that drive the conGenscrs.
popularity known as the "ice ma.
chimes" 1t is through this instrn.
mentality that all the power needed
In the factory is supplied. The con
densers are two huge, upright double
cylinders, whose dimensions are re-.
spectiyely 16x32 and 17x32 inches. 1t
Is to these that the bulk of generated
horse power is applied, and it is upon
them that the heaviest work falls.
They are built to withstand verv
heavy pressure and are POSSIBLY
twenty-five feet in hight, rising from
n pOnderous masonry foundation.
They are separate and independent.
but can be Gearcd to work in unison
as one machine. This IS done when
the plant Is Mt its fullest CAPACITY.
1t IS weli-known chemical and
physical law that ammonia, which in
= pure state is gas, can he com
pressed and congclled like all other
gases into liquid. Ammonia
IS light, diffusible and capable of
comparatively safe transportation
in this liquid form, which is
maintained, CT course, only under
pressure. When that pressure is re-
leased the LIQUID Immediately returns
to its original state, but gives of an
intense degree of cold during that
transportation back into the form
er condition. If this were brought
III direct contact with yes.
sci containing water it would
necessarily freeze 1t, but tue
process while being n speedy one
would be far from economical. Here
enters another chemical law; pure
water freezes at thirty-two degrees
Fahrenheit; water with any foreign
admlxture at Il much lower tempera.
ture. If then we would take tam,
and I'LL 1t with specially prepared
water whose freezing point was below
That OF purc water we could immerse
IL vessel containing the latter in the
former aud form ice in the vessel.
| This Is taken advantage of IN the
manufacture of ice on commercial
scale. The liquid that has been found
most suitable Is lime, q solution of
salt containing eighty six pounds to
every 100 pints OF water. Naturally,
II. n container OF pure water is sus.
| pended in this lime and the lime is
| kept just above it's freezing point the
water solidifying at much higher
temperature will be frozen solid if
kept there long enough. This being
the theory it is most easy to put it into
practice in way that shall be CONNER.
ciaily valuable.
The ammonia gas, liquifel and
under strong pressure, is brought to
the factory in wrought iron cylinders,
weighing several hundred pounds each,
and is taken TO the top of an adioin-
ing structure. Through n series of
heavy pipes is conducted, still under
| pressure, to the space beneath the
floor OF the tank room. Below this
floor, which covers about two acres, is
the brine tank containing many gal
Ions of the salt solution. This is per
meated by miles of pipe, through
which the new pressure-reduced am
monia flows.
The brine is pumped and kent in
constant circulation by couple of
rotary engines. The tempcra. Of
the brine falls far below that of the
freezing point of water, and is bound
to CONCEAL anything that is immersed.
On the floor are square openings, pro.
tecled by stout covers of oak and pine.
oil OF which have number. There
arc 1890 of these openings OH this
floor, and n sImilGr tank room above
y ives AGO more. Through each
'mHc of these openings heavy,
noloter tight sheet iron containers
ire lowered, open only on the
Up. These are filed with the dis.
glIIcd and filtered water, and as it fills
apptomaticNlly, the can sinks. The
pening is then closed, and for thirty
r. * hours the process goes on in that