The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-30

There are common sayings that are
heard at all seasons Of the year and
others that are only appropriate at
certain seasons. Among the latter is
"how would you like to be the ice
man." This is a saying that one hears
a great many times between spring
and fall, but there are few persons VINO
would really like to be the ice man
even on the hottest days if they knew
what they were talking about.
The promulgator of the Hot
Weather Dont's" has undoubtedly ov-
erlooked several bases, which. if OBJ
served, might tend to eliminate large
amount of speculation on the part OF
people seeking to keep cool during
| the times when the mercury tOuch
around 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Espe-
cially would this be true when one
considers spending a few hours in an
| ice plant-an artificial manufacturing
plant.
| Although there are cool spots in
these plants, generally in the most
secluded corners, the remainder OF the
works is usually extremely warm, eV-
en- hot at times. This peculiar fact is
due to the use of boilers and innumer-
able steam pipe contrivances which
are streWn over the entire plant.
These pipes are essential to the man
ufacture of the product to bring about
the expansion of gases and the use
thereof which causes water, or con-
densed steam to freeze.
| The process used in the manufac-
ture of the artificial product is es-
pecially interesting. Although de-
tailed account of the process cannot
be given here owing to lack of space,
one will find a trip to the local plants
instructive as we'll as interesting. 1t
is generally known, however. that am
monia in it's simple form, aqua am
monia, is one of the most important
ingredients. A large generator, con-
tanning several hundred gallons OF
aqua ammonia standing about fifty
feet in height, contains three coils,
connected with the boilers carrying
steam through the ammonia. This
causes the liquid to form and causes
gas which is carried off by four inch
/
inch pipes over which water is con-
stantly streaming. causing the gas to
coool From the coils the gas passes
through the tap, which cathces and
separates the liquid from the gas,
sending it back to the generator,
The gas then passes through the con-
densor. coil OPP pipes containing
about 1000 feet of one-inch pipe.
From here the gas passes through the
expansion valve, entering the valve In
an inhc pipe with a pressure OF 10
pounds and passing to a large pipe
carrying about fifteen pounds pres
sure. The gas then circulates through
the freezing tanks. which are placed
in brine. In these the water tanks are
placed to freeze. From these tanks
the gas returns to an absorber where
it mikes with pure liquid, that which is
weakened in the generator and pump
ed back into the original starting
place. The pressure which is given
the gas while passing through the
pipes comes from the steam it creates
in the generator.
The peculiar feature of the gas &C
ton while passing through the freez-
ing tanks is the absorption of the heat
from the brine which leaves the tanks
at a temperature of about % degrees
Fahrenheit and causes the water to
freeze. Twenty-nine degrees is con-
sidered the freezing point for ice, 80
degrees the dividing point and 81 de-
grees the thawing point The fRez'
ing then. is not brought about by the
passing of a cold substance through
the pipes near the tanks, but by ex-
tracing the heat which lies in the
brine and leaving a freezing tempera-
iture, a process which is not realized
by those unfamiliar with the work.
The water is placed in large cans OF
200 pounds capacity. These cans are
placed in the brine alongside OF the