Density modification of ice particles in ice slurry

• Density of the ice particles can be modified by using foreign particles.
• Only a small amount of foreign particles act as ice forming nuclei.
• Various foreign particles adhere to the surface of one ice particle.
• Density of ice unpredictable due to several foreign particles in each ice particle.
• Process similar to sediment entrainment in ice in open waters (suspension freezing).

One of the characteristic properties of ice slurry is the buoyancy of ice particles, which leads to ice separation in unmixed ice slurries and the necessity to agitate storage vessels if ice slurry is to be extracted. Based on this, an investigation into the density modification of ice particles has been undertaken. Additional particles with higher density than ice should act as ice forming nuclei during ice generation, for which suitable particles have been determined and tested. It was possible to show that not all added particles act as ice forming nuclei in the role of a cell nucleus. Furthermore, it can be assumed that various particles agglomerate on the surface of ice particles; hence the density of ice particles increased more than expected due to the incorporation of several particles in each ice particle. These modified ice particles may sediment to the bottom of the container due to the high density of the numerous heavy foreign particles.