cold storage with high specific and absolute capacity, cooling load shifting on time scales from hours to months, aquatic thermal utilization at very low temperatures, seawater desalination

The vacuum liquid ice technology combines high energy efficiency in cold generation with high thermal storage densities, as well as high, time-independent discharge capacities compared to solid ice storage systems. Small flowing water bodies at low temperatures can be utilized as a source for heat supply.

Water as a refrigerant has been continuously developed at ILK for several decades. At our institute, we operate vacuum ice generators based both on absorption chillers (maximum 15 kW cooling capacity, melting temperature −2 to 0 °C) and mechanical compressors (80 kW and 500 kW cooling capacity, −5 to 0 °C melting temperature). Compared to the also available traditional scraped-surface ice process (−30 to 0 °C, 10 kW), significantly higher energy efficiencies are achieved.

For the storage of liquid ice, tanks with a capacity of 0,5 .. to 85 m³ are available. In our liquid ice test facility, heat exchangers are characterized, and fittings as well as the piping system for liquid ice transport are investigated. With the help of our chemistry department, ice content and additive concentrations can be precisely determined at every stage of the process.

Thanks to our expertise and liquid ice infrastructure, we are able to fundamentally rethink the process of liquid ice production and utilization, including all system components, and adapt it to user requirements.

We are experienced in temporarily installing our systems at external sites in order to test the use of liquid ice under customer-specific conditions. In addition to ice production, operation as a chilled water system or for seawater desalination is also conceivable.